POLICE officer numbers in York and North Yorkshire may be cut unless more money can be found to bridge a gap in police finances.

The other main option, says North Yorkshire Police Authority, is to increase the police precept, which forms part of the council tax.

This would safeguard police numbers which are set to rise to a record 1,420 officers in March, 100 more than in January last year.

North Yorkshire Police Authority member John Duggan said any increase in council tax would be minor.

He said: "It will probably be the equivalent of half a pint of beer a week - which in anyone's terms is small change.

"It really is chicken feed."

The council tax police precept for the average household is currently £62.59, well below the national average.

The squeeze on police finances is being caused by an escalating pensions bill for retired officers.

The police authority's members said it was not the fault of the officers themselves, who deserved a good pension after a lifetime's service to local communities and who contributed 11 per cent of their earnings towards it.

They said that despite a comprehensive spending review looking for possible savings, next year's government grant was not expected to bridge the gap.

A series of public meetings is planned to gauge opinion on how best to meet the shortfall and to answer the key question of whether to reduce officer numbers or increase council tax.

Mr Duggan, a North Yorkshire county councillor and Selby district councillor, said the police authority's financial position would be fully explained at the meetings.

He said: "We want local people to know exactly where we are with the budget.

"Whatever happens there are still going to be bobbies on the beat and there are now more than ever."

The public meetings will be held at Brayton Community Centre, Selby, at 6.30pm on Wednesday; The Friends' Meeting House, Scarborough, at 7.30pm on Thursday; and at Novotel, York, at 7.30pm on January 24.

Updated: 11:15 Monday, January 07, 2002