DEFENCE cash could be diverted to cash-strapped North Yorkshire Police to foot the bill for guarding military bases, and covering for Ministry of Defence (MoD) police sent to war zones.

York MP Hugh Bayley has lodged a formal request with defence ministers, after claiming a fifth of the work formerly done by military police was now done by civilian officers.

Mr Bayley told the Evening Press he had no complaint about local police doing this important work, but they should receive a grant to cover their efforts.

The Labour MP said: "Circumstances have changed and I would say that about 20 per cent of the work that used to be done by soldiers is now done by civilian police.

"It is quite right that they carry out the work and I am not saying 'come back and police the streets', but grant allocations need to reflect that."

Mr Bayley said the police had managed to cope under great pressure, thanks in part to the fact it now had a record number of officers.

But he added: "The point of these extra police was so we could get a quicker and better response time to crimes."

Many of the extra tasks being performed by police are a direct result of the "war on terror".

Civilian officers have been asked to provide extra security at military bases across the county amid fears of a terrorist attack.

In addition, many MoD police officers have been called up to serve in Afghanistan and, more recently, Iraq. Civilian officers have been asked to take on their responsibilities, Mr Bayley said.

The deployment of MoD officers based at Catterick means North Yorkshire is particularly badly hit.

Resources have been further stretched by peace demonstrations at the Menwith Hill and Fylingdales bases.

At defence questions in the Commons, Mr Bayley pointed out the benefits of a flexible relationship between the local police and the MoD.

He said it had been proved civilian officers could provide cover, and there could be benefit in the relationship being made formal.

This would allow North Yorkshire Police to receive a grant from the Home Office for traditional police work, and the MoD for other duties.

The MoD said Ministers would consider Mr Bayley's letter.

Updated: 08:45 Friday, November 07, 2003