North Yorkshire Police freeze council tax precept

The police council tax precept will not rise next year after the North Yorkshire Police Authority agreed to a freeze.

The authority said accepting a £1.84m government grant instead would reduce the burden on residents.

Police chiefs had warned the freeze could mean a budget shortfall of up to £3m by 2013/2014.

The force has already cut 323 civilian and 65 officer posts as part of plans to save £28m over four years.

The budget for North Yorkshire Police in 2012/2013 has been set at £138.5m, a reduction of almost £2m from the current year.

Jane Kenyon, chairman of the police authority, said: "Today's decision means that we are not placing any additional burden on our communities to continue providing the best possible policing service that we can.

"The downside of accepting the government grant is that next year you will have a hole to fill."

Ms Kenyon added she was confident the force could deal with any shortfall if it had to.