POLICE chiefs believe they are winning the fight to reduce sickness levels and keep more bobbies on the streets.

Police sickness levels across the county have been a source of concern in recent years, and 12 months ago the average days lost per employee in the North Yorkshire force stood at 13.

However, a number of measures that have been introduced have now reduced the number to just under ten - and the force is confident it will soon cut that figure even further, to eight.

The sickness figures are included in the soon-to-be-published annual report on the force by the Inspectorate of Constabulary.

Director of human resources Jon Porter said that, although pleased with the figures, the force recognised a massive improvement was needed to reduce the high sickness levels.

"We are not getting too carried away with the figures, because we realise that we were climbing up a very large hill in the first place," he said.

"We are at the stage where we can look down with some credit, but know we still have the rest of the hill to climb."

Measures to reduce the total have included improvements in the management of sickness absence, with senior personnel now being more proactive on the issue.

A new, family-friendly shift pattern has also been introduced, giving officers longer rest periods.

Pressure has also been alleviated by a jump in the number of officers - by April it will have increased by 40 to 1,460 - and occupational health days have also been introduced, when nurses carry out health assessments.

Mr Porter said that even improvements in uniforms, along with better technology and equipment, may have had a positive impact on sickness rates.

"It may not sound relevant, but it is obviously going to make them more motivated to come to work," he said.

He added: "There are no grounds for complacency, and although we are delighted to have the lowest sickness rates in our recent history, we have already set targets for further improvements to get below the nine-day figure for each officer."