by Mike LaycockTRAFFIC cops are fuming after the number of marked patrol cars in York was almost halved.

An officer told the Evening Press he feared police would lose ground in the battle against dangerous drivers and travelling criminals, after the number of marked vehicles was cut from five to just three.

He claimed the cut had hit morale and added: "At times, this will leave us stretched to the limit." And concerns about the reduction were raised yesterday with the North Yorkshire force by the Police Federation, which fears officers' safety might be jeopardised if they attend accidents in one of the force's unmarked cars.

But Acting Superintendent Gary Barnett, in charge of the York division, has defended the reduction, made as part of an ongoing review of the vehicle fleet, saying: "Three are adequate to do the job."

He claimed police could continue to provide the necessary level of service with such a number of cars.

And he stressed that they also had unmarked cars available and could call on other vehicles if the situation warranted it.

Police Federation representative, Bob Humpleby, said after raising the matter yesterday the force had taken on board his comments and would be examining the issue.

The traffic policeman, who cannot be identified, claimed that the York division was almost left without a single marked patrol car recently after one of the remaining three cars was damaged in an incident in Clifton.

He said a second car was in for a service and the remaining vehicle was due to go back to the garage for a modification.

That car was only able to stay on the road after checks revealed the modification was not urgent and could be delayed to a later date, he said.

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