TALK about trying to flog off the family silver... North Yorkshire Police have had to call off a planned auction of medals, trophies, cups, silverware and other memorabilia at the last minute after retired officers protested.

The items, which had long been kept at the force’s former headquarters at Newby Wiske, apparently became surplus to requirements after the move to a new HQ. They were due to go under the hammer at a remote Scottish auction house in a town near Glasgow tomorrow.

But members of North Yorkshire’s Association of Retired Police Officers blew the whistle after finding out about the sale. Retired police officer Keith Moore said there was a ‘feeling of outrage’. “The memorabilia, which consists of silverware, cups, silver trays, medals, plaques, paintings and other such items, represents the history of policing in North Yorkshire,” he told The Press.

It represents exactly that - as well as the pride and dedication of officers of the past, and the affection and respect that the people of North Yorkshire feel for them. We know that the force is desperately short of cash - and we haven’t forgotten the anger that greeted Home Secretary Amber Rudd’s suggestion a couple of weeks ago that forces should dig into their emergency reserves rather than asking for more money. But surely flogging off the force’s history isn’t the answer? Is this really what the politicians have brought our country to?

At least the force has belatedly had the good sense to postpone the auction. We should think so, too. It should now scrap the plan altogether.