NORTH Yorkshire police today came under fire after it emerged the force had the third worst record in the country for retirement on medical grounds.

More than 60 per cent of police retirements in the county in 1998-99 were for ill-health reasons. Only Suffolk and Greater Manchester police had worse records, with the average for England being about 45 per cent.

In 1996/97, about 75 per cent of retirements at the North Yorkshire force were on ill-health grounds, with only Merseyside having a higher record.

In 1997/98, North Yorkshire police's figure was just below 50 per cent, but still above the national average.

The Government immediately announced it would set targets to reduce retirements through ill-health in the police and fire services, local government and the civil service.

Ministers were shocked to discover that retirements on medical grounds were a third higher in the public than the private sector.

Andrew Smith, Chief Secretary at the Treasury, said: "Early retirement should be available on genuine medical grounds where there are good reasons, but levels are higher than they should be.

"We are determined to bring them down to deliver a fair deal for the taxpayer and the people who depend on public services."

The figures were published by the Treasury in a Review of Ill Health Retirement in the Public Sector, including police forces in England and Wales.

It showed 22,000 ill-health retirements cost the taxpayer £1 billion a year.

Retirement on medical grounds peaked in the mid-1990s at 40,000 a year but is still at historically high levels.

North Yorkshire Police spokesman Tony Lidgate said: "The rigours of policing this enormous rural county take their toll on officers.

"We are aware of our level of ill-health retirements and we have put measures in place to reduce them."

He said the majority of ill-health retirements could be broadly categorised as back injuries or stress.

Recruits are advised from day one, and throughout their careers, on how to avoid these.

He said: "It may well also be that police officers have more ill health than other types of employee."

More than 16 per cent of North Yorkshire Police's budget is paid out to police pensioners, who outnumber serving officers in the county.

North Yorkshire fire brigade had an ill-health retirement record slightly below the national average of just under 60 per cent.