A SURVEY into the public's confidence in police has been welcomed by the North Yorkshire force.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Service (HMICFRS), said research carried out by Ipsos MORI into the public's perceptions of crime, safety and local policing showed confidence had risen across the country.

HM Inspector Matt Parr said: "After a year in which the emergency services have faced some of the most challenging incidents in recent times, it is encouraging to see that the public’s confidence in the police to protect them against terrorism has increased markedly, with over half of people saying they are confident in the police response.

"Most participants – around two-thirds – identified that the response of police to emergencies was the most vital service, and almost three-quarters of respondents thought the police was effective in doing this. The importance of visible local policing continues to resonate with the public – over eight in ten said that it was important to have a regular uniformed presence. But, the number of people who have not seen a police presence in the last year has risen from just over a third in 2015 to almost half this year."

More than 12,000 people were surveyed, and the results showed 67 per cent thought the main priority for police was responding in person to emergencies, 63 per cent in tackling crime of all types, and 56 per cent in countering terrorism and extremism.

About 53 per cent said they were satisfied with their police service, but the proportion of people saying the service had become worse had increased to 25 per cent from 20 per cent last year.

Assistant Chief Constable Amanda Oliver of North Yorkshire Police said the force "currently has the highest public confidence rating in the country along with one of the lowest crime figures".

She said: "Combined with this latest HMICFRS survey, these confidence levels are very reassuring. But as ever, there is simply no place for complacency to creep in and we remain focused on continuous improvement and protecting the residents of North Yorkshire.

"Policing is about keeping people safe, and overall we achieve some very positive results. Despite the challenges we face, proactive Neighbourhood Policing remains a high priority for us. Together with the Police and Crime Commissioner and our community partners, we will keep working hard to ensure North Yorkshire Police provides the best possible service for our communities."