A BELEAGURED police force is at the centre of a surveillance row.

The allegations are being levelled at Cleveland Police by its own officers.

Force management emphatically denies claims that they used hidden cameras and microphones to monitor their staff at Middlesbrough police station.

But acting on behalf of anxious members, the Police Federation has begun seeking legal advice on the claims.

They arose following the recent arrest of a detective and a support worker.

The pair have now been released on police bail. Inquiries are continuing and a file is being prepared for the Crown Prosecution Service.

Chief Inspector Paul Rider, chairman of the Cleveland branch of the Police Federation, said officers accepted there must be appropriate checks and balances in place to scrutinise their conduct.

He said: "However, we must strike the right balance to ensure that all members of staff, police officers and support staff are able to carry out their jobs and do not have to work against an atmosphere of mistrust and apprehension.

"They must have trust in their workplace and be able to get on with their jobs without looking over their shoulders, because an environment of this nature will undoubtedly undermine morale and confidence in their managers.''

Referring to the long-running and costly Operation Lancet, an investigation into allegations of police misconduct, Chief Insp Rider said: "The staff at Middlesbrough have been through a lot and we must not undermine the progress we have made in recent months.''

Telephones were tapped during the Lancet investigation and officers' conversations listened in on.

But a force spokesman said last night: "There are no cameras or listening devices in Middlesbrough police station. There is an investigation under way, but it is not appropriate to comment further at this time.''

It is not the first time police at the station have taken concerns to the federation.

Twenty officers complained about a comment made by Chief Constable Barry Shaw last year that former Detective Superintendent Ray Mallon had been at the centre of an "empire of evil''.

The complainants included officers suspended as part of Operation Lancet and those who were working at Middlesbrough police station when Mr Mallon, now the Mayor of Middlesbrough, was in charge of the town's CID.