A NUMBER of neighbourhood police officers in the Camborne area have opted out of having their pictures displayed on the Devon and Cornwall Police website for fear of being victimised and abused.

Four officers, including a team sergeant, together with others from different areas claim that being featured on the site could lead to all sorts of problems for them and their families, particularly from the criminal fraternity.

Police officials at Middlemoor will only say the matter is being discussed at top level later this month and will not comment further.

None of the police officers will comment but the Police Federation is known to be involved.

Steve Pierce, chairman of the federation for Devon and Cornwall, said they had put the matter in the hands of their legal experts and were hoping for a judicial review in the new year. Putting pictures on the web was unlawful and against the Data Protection Act, he said. "We have been unable to reach agreement on this over the past year," he said.

A click onto the Devon and Cornwall Police website shows a number of neighbourhood officers featured for all areas. Each has a passport size picture and their name beneath it.