COUNCIL chiefs are set to urge Home Secretary Jack Straw to intervene in the Operation Lancet inquiry - against the wishes of the Cleveland Police Authority.

Councillor David Walsh, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, yesterday won the full council's backing in asking for a judicial review on how such inquiries are run.

The move was prompted by growing concerns that the investigation, set up by the authority to look into claims of corruption in Cleveland Police, was taking too long and costing too much.

Coun Walsh said an independent review was needed to restore people's faith.

"The resolution deals with the issues raised as a result of the increasing public frustration over the long, drawn-out disciplinary controversies around the Operation Lancet inquiry, which are dogging the Cleveland force," he said.

The councillors' resolution covers eight areas of concern, including the speed of the inquiry, its costs, whether alternative methods of investigation can be used, and the division of responsibilities between the Home Office, police forces and police authorities.

It states: "Whilst not seeking to take sides or apportion blame, we do believe that this inquiry raises fundamental concerns over the ability of existing Police Complaints Authority procedures to deal efficiently and effectively with such matters."

But Councillor Ken Walker, leader of the Cleveland Police Authority, said another inquiry would be a waste of money, and described the idea as "misguided and ill conceived".

"I believe that a judicial inquiry would be seen as yet another lengthy and expensive procedure, which would find no favour with the public," he said.

"If such an inquiry was undertaken, it would come from the Police Authority's own purse - with the likely result that resources for policing in Cleveland would be drastically reduced."

He suggested that an investigation by the Home Office as part of a more comprehensive review would be a more viable alternative