A county-wide crackdown against crime in North Yorkshire is getting results.

Police have made 214 extra arrests since Operation Delivery began earlier this month, while reported crime has been halved in comparison with the same period last year.

Chief Constable Della Cannings yesterday pledged to maintain the pressure.

"Operation Delivery is a marathon and not a sprint," she said.

"We will be relentless in targeting criminals and we will continue to get results."

Ms Cannings said known criminals were already going to ground after a series of operations which were increasing arrest rates.

She pledged to radically improve services, beginning with front-line call handling and policing of nuisance and anti-social behaviour.

"We are going to get out there with tactical operations, we will identify suspects, get them and get good quality convictions at the end of it," she said.

"The most important thing is that we end up with less victims, and by doing that everyone's quality of life improves."

Deputy Chief Constable Roger Baker said that North Yorkshire would soon be one of the best-performing rural forces in the country.

He said the force intended to beat all its crime detection targets by March and he delivered a message to criminals.

"If you are going to come to this county and bring crime, nuisance and disorder then bring an overnight bag too because you will be staying," he said.

The extra arrests since the crackdown began on Monday last week include 57 for assault, 43 for burglary and 14 for public order offences.

As part of the operation a centre has been set up at police headquarters at Newby Wiske, near Northallerton, to monitor progress and target resources.

Ms Cannings said: "It is horrendous for people to be victimised by burglars, theft or robberies.

"We want to make sure that we have reduced those crimes."