BUY your own boots - that's what police officers in North Yorkshire are being asked to do by their cash-strapped bosses.

Uniformed officers across the county have been told they will have to buy their own boots as the force tightens its purse strings.

Some police officers have hit out at the decision by management to stop issuing Magnum boots - at a cost of about £60 a pair - when theirs need replacing.

All officers who currently have boots on order have been told they will have to buy their own as part of cost-cutting measures.

They will be able to claim back a £55 uniform allowance at the end of the year towards the cost of their boots - but officers say few people remember to make the claim and they might have to wait up to 12 months to get the money.

They believe the force should provide them with new boots when they are needed because they are part of their equipment. But it would cost the force £96,000 to provide one pair for each of the 1,600 police officers.

Mark Botham, chairman of North Yorkshire's branch of the Police Federation, said: "We were issuing Magnum boots, but we are not issuing them anymore.

"They are not classed as personal protection equipment under health and safety legislation, so the force has no obligation to provide them. But all police officers receive a tax allowance which includes cover for their boots."

In the past, the footwear had also been provided for Police Community Support Officers and some members of the force's support staff.

One serving police officer said: "Surely the boots are an important part of any frontline officer's equipment? It seems tight when senior management are all driving around in posh cars paid for by the force."

A colleague added: "It does seem a bit tight when we're required to have them as part of our uniform and most officers get a new pair of boots once a year.

"It was one of the few perks we got.

"It's frustrating for the people who had already ordered a pair but have now been told they won't be getting them. You could end up waiting a whole year for the tax allowance to come round and most people forget to claim it. It's just another way for the force to save money at our expense."

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said officers had been told to pay for their own boots as part of cost-cutting measures.

She said: "Following a review of all equipment provided to staff and officers, it was decided to withdraw the provision of boots for uniformed staff. A £55 tax allowance can be claimed back against the cost of purchase."

But she said special safety boots were still provided for officers in dangerous roles following a risk assessment.