A POLICE chief says he is committed to putting more bobbies on the beat in a bid to combat problems with anti-social and drunken behaviour, but the cost might prove prohibitive.

Grahame Maxwell, North Yorkshire's chief constable, told 50 residents at a public meeting at Thirsk Town Hall on Wednesday of last week that he believed the police should be more visible to the public.

Mr Maxwell said: "I feel that, in North Yorkshire, we have something which is worth protecting. I want to deliver the best possible police service we can, but it's got to be something we all do together.

"I would love to put police officers out on the streets 24 hours a day and I don't want them in buildings.

"But I don't think we can afford it. In reality, it's a complex balancing act and we need to be in the right place at the right time."

His comments came after residents' complained that Thirsk and its surrounding area was suffering from problems of anti-social and drunken behaviour, from both adults and youths.

Robert Prestwich said: "A lot of Thirsk's problems are from opportunists and a misbehaving element. I feel that having officers on the beat is the greatest deterrent to that."

Other concerns revolved around St Mary's Church, in Kirkgate, which has suffered regular vandalism attacks.

Dickie Breeds said: "The softly, softly police approach is not working today. When I was younger, the police would clip your ear and leave you in the cells before taking you home where you got another hiding.

"It's all gone too soft now and the system does not back up the officers out on the streets."

Mr Maxwell said he did not make the laws, he and his officers just enforced them.

"We walk a fine line and if we hit anyone the officer could lose their job and their liberty," he said. "I will back my officers up, but if they break the law, I will come down on them like a ton of bricks."