THE decision to axe the North Yorkshire Police underwater search unit was today attacked by a police officer.

The serving policeman, who asked not to be named, said he was "disgusted" by the move, which he claimed would result in a poorer service in England's largest county.

He also questioned the force's forward planning, saying it had bought a new purpose-built vehicle only a year ago.

The Evening Press recently revealed that the force had decided to start using Northumbria Police frogmen instead of the dedicated county team.

Police chiefs said closing the Underwater Search Unit would save taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds.

Assistant Chief Constable David Collins said the search unit cost nearly £100,000 each year to operate.

But in a letter to the Evening Press, the irate officer claimed Northumbria would not be able to provide an "effective and professional" service.

He said: "Can the force explain why they bought and supplied the unit with a brand new, purpose-built vehicle only one year ago - costing a substantial amount of money - then trained all the officers to HGV standard in order to drive it?

"Is that what you call good forward planning when you are trying to save money?"

The outspoken officer claimed the figure of £100,000 referred to non-diving specialist work.

"The figures were made to look poor," he said. "But they do not give a true reflection of the amount of diving work undertaken."

He said Northumbria was already covering four police areas while running one of two national police diving schools, and questioned whether the new set-up would allow lengthy searches.

He said: "Who will inform the parents of a missing person that the unit cannot attend for a few days to recover the body of their loved one, as a team is not available?"

The diving decision has already been greeted with harsh criticism, with a former member of the search unit - consisting of a sergeant and six constables - warning that response times would be longer.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "The figure of almost £100,000 represents the costs of training and qualifications, maintenance of equipment and transport, medical fees and other miscellaneous costs.

"The new vehicle was bought to service a need at that time. The Force is planning to sell it on to another police force.

"Over the last three years the team's own records show they did not do more than 12 dives in any one year and Northumbria Police are providing a very satisfactory service for Cleveland and Durham.

"We believe they have the capability and capacity to provide the service to us in North Yorkshire. In fact we have already deployed them on one job which was very satisfactory.

"The force and the public have now gained one sergeant and six constables for front-line operational policing."

Updated: 10:27 Thursday, May 05, 2005