A POLICE chief today declared war on criminals and pledged to sweep them from the streets of York and North Yorkshire.

Chief Constable Della Cannings said known criminals were already going to ground after a series of raids and targeted operations which were sending arrest rates through the roof.

She pledged to radically improve police services in York and North Yorkshire, beginning with front-line call handling and street-level policing of nuisance and antisocial behaviour.

Officially unveiling Operation Delivery, a force-wide move to improve performance, Ms Cannings said there was no longer anywhere for criminals to hide.

She said: "We are going to be relentless, we are going to keep this up. It is not just an operation of a few days or few weeks duration.

"We are going to get out there with tactical operations, we will identify suspects, get them and get good quality convictions at the end of it.

"Crime down, convictions up, that is what the people ask of us. The most important thing is that we end up with less victims, and by doing that everyone's quality of life improves."

Deputy Chief Constable Roger Baker, who is at the centre of efforts to create a modern, efficient and effective force, said North Yorkshire would soon be one of the best-performing rural forces in the country.

Pledging to beat all the county's crime detection targets by March, he said: "If you are going to come to this county and bring crime, nuisance and disorder then bring an overnight bag too because you will be staying."

Senior officers today unveiled results from the first week of Operation Delivery, which saw 214 extra arrests made and several major operations carried out.

A special centre has been set up at police headquarters at Newby Wiske, near Northallerton, from where officers will monitor the operation's progress and target resources.

Ms Cannings said: "It is horrendous for people to be victimised by burglars, theft or robberies and we want to make sure that we have reduced those crimes.

"I am aware that we have not met public expectations and that we have had internal problems and we are continuing to work to improve that."

Police fired the opening salvo of Operation Delivery in York earlier this month, when teams of officers raided a series of addresses in The Groves over two days.

Seven people were arrested as ten properties, including one pub, were raided. Police seized suspected stolen goods and suspicious substances were sent away for drug testing.

Updated: 10:42 Tuesday, September 16, 2003