NORTH Yorkshire council tax payers have the chance to hold their chief constable to account at a meeting in Northallerton tonight.

Public consultations in Hambleton on the police budget for next year begin at an open meeting, 6.30-9.30, at Hambleton Forum in Bullamoor Road.

Chief constable Della Cannings, who secured a controversial 76pc rise in the authority's share of council tax bills this year, will explain how the money has been spent and what has been achieved.

Ms Cannings will also outline options available to her controlling authority for next year.

A suggestion that the police authority precept could rise by as much as 54pc next year has been dismissed as "whistling in the wind" by Coun Carl Les, chairman of its community engagement board.

He has insisted the community is seeing real improvements in policing in return for the 76pc increase.

Ms Cannings has pointed to the success of major crimefighting operations over the last few months, recruitment of community support officers, introduction of an automatic number plate recognition system in the campaign against travelling criminals, and the creation of case building teams to handle paperwork associated with arrests so that officers can be released back on to the streets.

She has indicated, however, that the police authority precept may have to rise by up to 20pc next year if her force is to be developed further.

Coun Les is one of three Hambleton district members of the authority, the others being Jane Ryan, representing magistrates, and David Carter, an independent member and a former commandant of special constables in North Yorkshire.

They said in a joint statement that the 76pc rise was a difficult decision for authority members to make and an even more difficult one for many people to understand and accept.

It was needed, however, to enable Ms Cannings to commit investment to the force to build the kind of police service people said they wanted.

The members added: "At the time we were criticised by a number of people who maintain that this decision did not reflect their views and that they were not consulted. We did indeed consult, through public meetings and newspapers."

As well as a series of public meetings on next year's budget, the police authority is running a questionnaire on its web site, www.nypa.org.uk. Copies are also available by post from PO Box 106, Ripon HG4 5WA.

The authority is also using citizens' panels and wants to bring together small groups of residents in focus groups to look at budget issues. Anyone who can give about two hours in January can register their interest through the authority.

Coun Les said: "All Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators have been told about the meeting in Northallerton tonight, as have local community leaders and county and district councillors, but it is also for the public. I would hope there is a good attendance, because it is a very important issue."

* The date for a public meeting in Richmondshire on next year's police budget has changed after requests from organisations and individuals. It will now be at Colburn Community Health and Recreation Centre on January 30 at 2pm, a week later than first planned.

* Letters to the Editor: page 21