I WAS interested, and not a little surprised, to read of Assistant Chief Constable Peter Bagshaw's plans to introduce 'integrity testing for staff already under suspicion of wrongdoing' within North Yorkshire Police (August 25).

If there are any staff within the force who are under suspicion of wrongdoing, then he should get on with investigating them.

Making comments to the Press which give the impression that he has a problem with the honesty and integrity of his staff will do little to lift morale in a force which has had a succession of high profile cases, many of which were not the fault of the rank and file officers.

I was also fascinated to see that he is looking into introducing drug testing on a voluntary basis as the legality of random tests is in doubt.

In an effort to be helpful, can I tell him that those who take drugs will not volunteer for the tests.

Those of us who served for many years in North Yorkshire Police have looked on in sadness and amazement, not only at the events of recent times, but at the ways they have been dealt with.

At a time when morale is low already, the interests of the force and the public of North Yorkshire are best served by quietly getting on with the rigorous investigation of wrongdoers, not seeking publicity for half-baked schemes which imply that most police and civilian staff are corrupt. They are not.

Name and address supplied.