NORTH Yorkshire’s Police and Commissioner (PCC) has said the county’s high drug driver conviction rate is a sign of ‘diligent’ policing.

The county was highlighted in a recent report comparing the drug driving conviction rate of every police force area in the country.

North Yorkshire came out top with 20.91 drug driving convictions per 100,000 of the population in 2015.

Cleveland and Durham also came in the top ten.

Julia Mulligan, PCC for North Yorkshire said: “The North Yorkshire public have been crystal clear that road safety is a priority for them, and I have been investing in safety camera vans and other initiatives, like Community Speed Watch, as a result. “The Chief Constable has also ensured officers are proactively dealing with dangerous driving, and that is demonstrated by the steps taken to address drink and drug driving, which sadly seems to be on the increase.

“High ‘drug drive’ convictions rates are a sign of diligent and proactive policing, and goes to show that we are taking the public’s concerns very seriously.

“It is an extremely serious crime and one the police will continue to proactively address in North Yorkshire.”

Drug driving convictions have increased across the country since new legislation was introduced in 2015.