THE body which represents rank-and-file police in North Yorkshire says the fatal stabbing of a detective in Birmingham, and an incident in York in which an officer was dragged along city streets hanging from a suspect's car, both show the daily dangers faced by its members.

Chris Bone, the deputy secretary for the branch board of the Police Federation in North Yorkshire, said he could not comment on the specifics of individual incidents.

But he said the case of PC Neville King, who was dragged through several York streets trying to arrest a suspected disqualified driver, along with the murder of the Birmingham officer, showed how dangerous it was to be a police officer.

He said: "Both incidents highlight the dangers police officers face on a daily basis.

"Often the dangers are not recognised by the Government and the general public at large.

"These sorts of incidents, albeit few and far between in North Yorkshire, do highlight the difficult and dangerous job my colleagues are doing."

But he said the federation did not have any concerns about the availability of protective clothing or equipment for officers in North Yorkshire.

The Evening Press reported last week how PC King approached the car at a queue in East Parade in Heworth last Tuesday and attempted to arrest the driver.

The driver sped away with a door open and PC King inside and tried to swerve from side to side to shake him out.

The constable managed to stop the car by forcing it out of gear, and was then able to handcuff the youth to the steering wheel.

Birmingham officer Detective Constable Michael Swindells, 44, died after being stabbed in the abdomen while chasing a suspect on Friday.

The officer, who was married with one daughter, had been in the police force for nearly 14 years. He died from a single stab wound as he made an arrest in the Nechells area of the city. A 48-year-old man has appeared in court charged with Det Con Swindells' murder.

In another incident highlighting the risks faced by officers, a man was arrested in Newark, Nottinghamshire, after police dog handler Paul Squire received a broken leg when he was struck by a car on Saturday.

His dog, Bruce, disappeared after the collision but was spotted by a member of the public in Newark yesterday afternoon.

The officer was based in the same section as dog handler PC Ged Walker, who was killed in January 2003 by a car thief driving a stolen taxi.

Updated: 09:08 Tuesday, May 25, 2004