NORTH Yorkshire Police is failing to meet targets for the detection of crime.

Figures for the past six months showed a detection rate of 30.4 per cent, compared to a target of 40 per cent for 2006-7.

The same period last year had a rate of 35.8 per cent.

In July, senior officers were asked to prepare plans to improve the force's detection rate.

Their plans focused on the initial investigation process, providing additional training to all crime management unit staff and CID supervisors and detailed analysis of key crime areas.

In August, a group was set up to address the problem.

A report on the figures will go before North Yorkshire Police Authority's performance monitoring board on Thursday.

The report, written by Rachel Woodward from the force's performance unit, states: "The chief constable is not satisfied with the current level of performance.

"It is unacceptable to her that detection levels fall below those achieved last year.

"Despite two months of work, there is little or no improvement being achieved.

"The chief constable will commence direct performance inspections herself if there is not sufficient up-turn at the end of October 2006.

"She will, of necessity, need to take a radical approach to this to ensure that public confidence is not eroded in the ability of North Yorkshire Police to deliver justice."

Other figures contained in the report show that detection rates for offences of violence against black and minority ethnic groups have risen by 6.9 per cent, compared to the same six month period last year.

There has, however, been a 9.9 per cent reduction in overall crime, a 17.6 per cent reduction in violent crime and a 6.5 per cent reduction in the number of robberies, domestic burglaries and vehicle crime.