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A POLICE force in the North-East is to become one of the first in the country to "spy" on its own officers.

Durham Police are to recruit a squad of volunteers to monitor the attitude and behaviour of staff.

About 24 men and woman of varying ages and backgrounds will be used to carry out spot checks on a range of services provided to the public.

The so-called "mystery shoppers" will make telephone calls and carry out personal visits to offices and stop patrols on the street with a variety of queries.

The findings will be used to oversee and improve the quality of service offered by the force.

Stephen Peart, business change project officer, said: "This is a process that has been regularly used in industry, particularly hotels, restaurants and the retail trade, for a long time.

"We have discussed it with Unison and the federation, who have no problem with it, and our staff will be fully briefed before the scheme is launched.

"It is not designed to catch people out, nor is it designed to be a tool for discipline. We are doing this simply to improve our services."

West Midlands Police have been running a similar scheme for several years, but Durham is the first in the North to begin similar checks.

Mr Peart has been working closely with evaluation officer Anna Hopgood on the project.

In a previous job she ran various "mystery shopper" teams for a research company.

The force is currently recruiting the volunteers.

They will be fully trained and given different scenarios and briefs to use before being sent out throughout the county.

The volunteers will not be paid, although they will receive expenses.

Mr Peart said: "We must stress this is not intended to be in any way awkward for our officers or staff.

"They will be faced with what are simply basic inquiries, which will be changed on a monthly basis.

"The information gleaned will be reported back to the area command units. The whole project, which should get under way towards the end of the summer, is purely to improve, wherever possible the services we provide to the public."

Last week, it was revealed that officers serving communities in North Yorkshire are to be tracked by the latest technology.

The force is to make use of the new Qlikview computer system so it can keep tabs on bobbies on the beat.

6:04am Friday 8th June 2007

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