NORTH Yorkshire Police have been branded "the weakest link" by a Government inspector of police.

The criticism, from Dan Crompton, of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, relates to the force's race relations and its recruiting of ethnic minority officers.

But the findings were described as disappointing by the force.

The news comes at the end of eight days which have seen the force criticised for its disproportionate use of stop-and-search on non-whites, and the revelation that a black York man was stopped by police more than 70 times in only two years.

The latest report, titled Winning The Race - Embracing Diversity, shows that only one force in England and Wales received lower marks than North Yorkshire in ten areas including dealing with racist and homophobic crime and recruiting, promoting and retaining officers from ethnic minorities.

Mr Crompton described North Yorkshire Police, Gwent Police and City of London Police as "the weakest link" at a Home Office press conference in London.

He said more effort was needed to end "complacency" over stop-and-search tactics against ethnic minorities.

Reacting to the report, Assistant Chief Constable Peter Bagshaw, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "The force is disappointed that the report does not fully reflect the positive nature of the initial feedback from the inspection team."

He said that a number of initiatives relating to the issues raised in the report - including the Diversity Incorporating Safer Communities (Disc) initiative - had been brought in, and others were being developed at the time of the inspection.

Mr Bagshaw said that North Yorkshire police had adopted a different approach to other forces, and this approach had been praised as "creative and innovative".

"The force has made great progress and we are confident that we will continue to make positive strides for the benefit of the communities of North Yorkshire,." he said.

lVisit the Disc website at www.nypdisc.org.uk

Updated: 10:04 Saturday, January 20, 2001