Threat to night police patrols

The proposals mean Kirkbymoorside, Helmsley and Pickering would not see an officer between 1am and 9am, unless they were called to an incident.

Traffic officers or armed response teams patrolling on main roads, or from Malton, would be called out if needed.

Staff shortages are being blamed for the move, which could be implemented as soon as October. Police say they have to target resources where they are most needed and stress that the district has a low crime rate.

But the plans have shocked residents, who claim they would give an invitation to criminals.

Supt David Short, operations commander for Malton, said: "This measure is an interim measure to target limited resources most effectively and the public would expect me to spend their money as most appropriate."

Supt Short said 24-hour cover would remain in Whitby and Scarborough. He was allocating resources when they were most needed, which was between the hours of 9am and 1am, and he stressed northern Ryedale had a very low crime rate.

But the mayor of Pickering, Bill McCall, said: "There may be sparse police presence now, but to lose the patrol would be allowing criminals to come in and do what they want."

Tony Clark, the mayor of Kirkbymoorside, said: "If this is the case, I certainly wouldn't be happy."

North Yorkshire County Councillor David Lloyd-Williams, Ryedale's representative on the police authority, said the proposals would be a temporary measure.

He said: "If the police say this is the way they want to do it, then we will see if it works and, if it doesn't, then we will jump on them.

"Any problem reported would be dealt with by any officer in the area, including traffic and armed response officers patrolling the A64 or A171. I wouldn't expect response times to change dramatically."

The chairman of the North Yorkshire branch of the Police Federation, Bob Humpleby, said: "Yes, we are aware of these plans. This is just a symptom of the lack of staff in North Yorkshire Police."