A MASSIVE inflation-busting rise of almost 80pc will add £156 for police work to the average North Yorkshire council tax bill this year - but the force has been warned that it must produce visible evidence of improvements in delivery of the service.

The 76.09pc increase in the police share of the imminent council tax precept was unanimously approved by the controlling police authority on Monday to help chief constable Della Cannings achieve her aim of transforming the force into a service fit for the 21st century.

The figure, representing a £67.41 increase over the police proportion of the precept last year, will add £3 a week to the council tax bill for an average band D property.

The police authority, meeting at York, granted Ms Cannings a budget for this year of £114.2m not only to meet pay awards, inflation and fixed costs but to help pay for vital investment to improve and develop the service.

The meeting heard that the force, described by Ms Cannings as being under funded for years, had received only a minimum 3pc increase in grant aid from the Government, which had changed the formula governing the way in which money is allocated to police authorities while generating major changes to the service under the Police Reform Act.

Ms Cannings, attending her first full authority meeting since her arrival last October, said further efficiency savings of 2pc this year would not be enough to bridge a gap of £8.6m between what the force needed just to stand still and the current funding available to it.

She told authority members that new investment worth £13.2m in the infrastructure of the force would include measures to replace computer systems, reduce bureaucracy by returning more officers to the beat, recruit up to 60 community support officers and more special constables, improve control rooms, set up a central crime bureau and channel more money into police training.

Coun Michael Heseltine, representing the rural Richmondshire North area, said: "When I first looked at this budget my gut reaction at that time was that nothing should be considered involving a council tax rise of anything above single figures, but it became clear when taking on board our fixed commitments and inflationary pressures that this was an unrealistic goal unless we were prepared to slash services.

"We cannot avoid our pension obligations, National Insurance increases, nationally negotiated new conditions on service, the Police Reform Act and upgrading of custody suites with CCTV.

"The critical nature of our position is shown by the treasurer's report. A 3pc rise in our central government seems hopelessly inadequate to enable us just to stand still while taking on new responsibilities and developing the service.

"We need to be a 21st century force and the cost is frightening, but the chief constable has acknowledged those on fixed incomes and those who see the value of their investments declining daily.

"I think I have had more representations in recent weeks on this issue than on any other and I can sympathise with them."

Coun Heseltine said that if members went for the levy being proposed it would be "a huge act of faith" and added: "What safeguards are there for the council tax payer?

"Both the public and the police authority will want to see some clear and identifiable signs of progress at this time next year.

"There are problems in predominantly rural areas and their expectations are just as high as, though they may be different from, those elsewhere. Recognisable improvements must be seen in those areas."

Coun Nick Blitz said: "A 3pc rise in central funding is clearly inadequate. We have been sold down the river and we need the people of North Yorkshire to recognise that we have had a hand put up our back."

Coun Mike Doyle, who claimed people in rural areas were subsidising policing in York, said: "The chief constable has found an awful lot of threadbare clothing in our wardrobe.

Ms Cannings assured authority members that nationally and locally-agreed performance indicators would be the basis on which the achievements of the force would be measured, along with an annual policing plan and a three-year strategy outlining improvements and developments in the service.

She said that in police performance, additional funding through the council tax precept would help to target repeat crimes and persistent offenders and ensure effective systems for bringing criminals to justice.

She added: "It is better not to have a crime than to be a victim of a crime."

A higher police profile would be achieved by developing the special constabulary, recruiting community support officers and extending detention officers' powers under the Police Reform Act.

Modernisation of the force would involve freeing more officers from administrative tasks by introducing additional support staff. The present outdated information technology systems would be upgraded and integrated.

The force would maintain its policing of low crime rural areas and continue to develop intelligence work addressing such issues as travelling criminals and drugs.

Ms Cannings said North Yorkshire had a mobile police office but this did not give the same impression to the public as looking at a permanent building.

The force was looking towards more joint working with other agencies, giving as examples the developing one-stop community office in Masham and a new police station alongside the replacement fire and rescue service building in Bedale.

Ms Cannings said: "The public are still saying they want to see police on the streets, and that does not just mean in cars.