THE authority responsible for running the police in North Yorkshire has been on the move.

The county's police authority has transferred its headquarters to offices on the Melmerby Business Park, near Ripon.

Since it was formed eight years ago, the authority has rented space from the county council in their headquarters at Northallerton.

Police authority clerk Jeremy Holderness said: "Moving to new accommodation will enable us to work more efficiently and more effectively, and will serve to re-emphasise that we are a completely independent organisation in our own right."

"The cost of the move has been met from administrative savings made by the authority in recent years and will not be a burden on council tax payers."

The headquarters of the force will remain at Newby Wiske Hall, near Northallerton.