NORTH Yorkshire Police chiefs want a man who claimed that the force isn't dealing with bullying problems to come forward so they can investigate.

Spokesman Tony Lidgate added the allegations were "dismaying" after the whole force had made enormous efforts to learn the lessons of the early 1990s.

Then the force was rocked by claims of bullying and a "canteen culture", culminating in former Harrogate detective constable Libby Ashurst being paid a six-figure sum to settle an industrial tribunal out of court.

The latest row centres on a caller to a local radio station, who called himself Don and claimed to have links with police at Harrogate.

He said force chiefs were not actually dealing with the bullying problem.

"When they become aware that they have a bully in a particular station all they do is move him," he added.

Mr Lidgate said: "One anonymous caller to one radio station has made wide-ranging, unsubstantiated allegations, with no places, no names, no dates, and there has been no evidence of his bona fides. There has been no corroboration. "Under the circumstances, and since the station is unable to tell us who Don is, it is difficult for us to investigate, which we would clearly like to do."

There were a wide range of measures for dealing with bullying allegations depending on the circumstances, ranging from advice for a very minor case to a full disciplinary process.

Moving a person may be an option where a personality clash was involved, but there was no blanket penalty for bullying.