NEW Home Office figures show that criminals are more likely to be arrested if they are breaking the law in North Yorkshire.

The county's police have recorded the country's largest increase in arrests, according to statistics published last week.

The national figures show that the force has achieved a 17 per cent increase in arrests for crime. They rose from 21,002 to 24,494 - a rate of increase only rivalled by Greater Manchester.

"It's about greater numbers of officers and, especially, increased determination and efficiency - simple as that," said Assistant Chief Constable Peter Bagshaw.

He said the force has kept up the momentum of the highly successful Operation Delivery launched late last year and added: "The result is that more and more law-breakers are being taken out of circulation."

Nationally arrests were up one per cent. Across England and Wales arrests of males rose one per cent and female arrests were up four per cent; in North Yorkshire the increases were 14 per cent and 27 per cent.

Alongside the increasing arrest figures, North Yorkshire Police are also showing significant detection rates. Over the past month 37 per cent of reported crimes have been solved - a rate believed to be the best in England and Wales.