POLICE cuts in North Yorkshire will outstrip the national average – but officers numbers will suffer less than elsewhere, according to a new report.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has revealed how North Yorkshire Police is facing up to the challenge of saving £19 million over four years, following the Government’s 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review.

Roger Baker, HM Inspector of Constabulary for the northern region, said the force was in a “good position” to reach its £19 million savings goal and “may even exceed it”. He also said he believed the reduction in officers would still allow North Yorkshire Police to “reduce crime and keep the public safe”.

The North Yorkshire force plans to have shed 390 jobs between March 2010 and 2015, of which 170 will be officers - an 11 per cent reduction, one per cent higher than the average for England and Wales.

But HMIC said that, by 2015, the proportion of officers in frontline roles would increase from 88 per cent to 91 per cent, outstripping most other forces. The report said falling crime rates in North Yorkshire were “in line” with elsewhere, and 87 per cent of victims were satisfied with the service they received from the force, which is above the national average.

North Yorkshire’s temporary Chief Constable, Tim Madgwick, said: “The HMIC report confirms North Yorkshire Police is fighting fit, having undergone the single most significant reorganisation in its history to meet the funding challenges we were presented with.

“That we managed to maintain and, indeed, improve performance in cutting crime and anti-social behaviour is testament to the high level of service our officers, police staff and partners deliver.”

Mark Botham, who chairs North Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “There is no comfort in these findings. The last weekend saw more than 80 North Yorkshire officers deployed to assist West Yorkshire colleagues to police an English Defence League march, which is not sustainable without denuding the service provided to residents of North Yorkshire and York.

He said members were fearful for the safety of the public and themselves.

North Yorkshire Police has drawn up plans for saving £16.34 million of its targeted £19 million within three years.