POLICE charged more than £280,000 to keep York’s biggest events safe last year.

New figures obtained by The Press have revealed North Yorkshire Police received a six-figure sum for providing teams of officers during the city’s sporting highlights in 2010/11, including race meetings and crucial football matches.

The force was paid £115,591 for the policing measures it put in place around the 17 meetings at York Racecourse during the 12-month period, while it also received £45,255 for its presence at York City FC matches.

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire Police also charged other forces £67,099 for providing some of its officers to help with their operations under an arrangement known as “mutual aid”, bringing the total to £281,880 across the year.

Policing events such as race days and football events are classed by the force as being “special policing services”.

Organisations are charged according to the police’s “best estimate of the total cost”, with the force saying it looks to recover the total actual cost of any such operations.

York City’s communications and community director Sophie Hicks said police had kept their charges for match days down to a minimum.

She said: “We have a very positive relationship with North Yorkshire Police regarding the vital service they provide to the club for certain key matches during the season. We also continue to work closely with North Yorkshire Police through our community department and helping them to tackle anti-social behaviour in York.”

James Brennan, of York Racecourse, which paid some of the money, said the racecourse and police had a good relationship which worked together to manage big events at Knavesmire.

He said: “The racecourse has a consistent relationship with North Yorkshire Police at race events.

“This covers working with neighbourhood policing teams who work with our specially trained racing stewards on race meets and with the Safer Neighbourhood Team on non-race days.”