THE dissolving of North Yorkshire Police's underwater search unit inevitably diminishes the force's expertise.

These are highly-trained professionals who have played a key role in many investigations. They can find evidence in zero visibility, from stolen jewellery and weapons to dumped cars.

More famously, police divers also recover bodies from the water. The coroner has often relied on the work of the "frogmen" when investigating sudden deaths.

Now this in-house capability is to be lost. North Yorkshire Police is to buy in the services of the Northumbria underwater search unit.

On the face of it, the savings are significant: the team of a sergeant and six constables requires nearly £100,000 a year to maintain.

Presumably, however, that cost is offset when neighbouring forces pay for the unit to carry out searches on their behalf.

One former member of the underwater search unit believes the delays caused by calling in Northumbria's divers could "end up costing the force a lot of money".

The Ouse, the Foss, the Derwent, the Wharfe, the Nidd, the Swale, the Ure; canals, lakes and ponds: North Yorkshire has a many waterways to "contract out".

Residents caught up in the 2000 floods have cause to be particularly grateful that these water specialists were on their doorstep.

We can only hope the new arrangement is capable of delivering the high standards of service set by North Yorkshire's unsung amphibians.

Updated: 10:59 Wednesday, April 20, 2005