Home Office denies Green vendetta

The chief constable said he had to "borrow" officers from other forces

The Home Office has denied Charles Clarke wants to sack Notts Chief Constable Steve Green after he said his force was "struggling to cope".

Mr Green told a newspaper that his officers were being stretched by the demands placed on them.

An inquiry has been set up into whether the force can deal with serious crime.

A Home Office spokesman said: "Mr Clarke's only aim is to ensure that Nottinghamshire Police Force works effectively, with or without Mr Green."

Senior backing

Mr Green said his force was "reeling" from dealing with 30 murders, dealt with excessive paperwork and had to borrow officers from other areas.

He said Nottingham had seen a sharp rise in high-profile category A murders from one every 12 to 18 months before 2001, to about 21 in the past four years.

Labour MP Graham Allen, who represents Nottingham North, criticised Mr Green for turning to the press and questioned how officers were being deployed.

On Sunday, Bob Quick, the Chief Constable of Surrey, said 90% of an officer's time was taken up with bureaucracy and that many forces had the same problems highlighted by Steve Green.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary will produce a report by 4 April and advise if action is necessary before then.