AN extraordinary row has broken out between two chief constables and one of the country's most trusted market research organisations over the future of regional policing.

Cleveland Police Authority paid Mori £48,000 to conduct a poll into Government plans to merge the Durham, Northumbria and Cleveland forces.

The survey of 4,798 people delivered a resounding call for a referendum before any changes are made.

But the chief constables of Durham and Northumbria cast doubt on the research and disputed the survey's impartiality.

They said one of the questions left participants with the impression Durham and Northumbria were "taking over" Cleveland.

In a joint response, the forces said they had received complaints that callers did not identify themselves, that people had been asked if there were children in the house, and an allegation that one caller apparently claimed to be a Cleveland Police officer.

A Press release also claimed that one householder feared elderly people were being targeted as she was asked for her age and whether there were any men in the family.

Mori chiefs immediately hit back, saying the results were perfectly valid.

Mori research director Ashley Ames defended the quality of the questionnaire.

Mr Ames said: "We have received no formal complaints from members of the public and we have asked both forces to substantiate their comments so we can look into the details of their claims.

"Our staff are trained to an industry-leading standard and we have taken a great deal of time to make sure the questions are fair."

Last night, it also emerged that one of the people who had taken part was Jon Stoddart, Chief Constable of Durham Constabulary.

Mr Stoddart criticised the professionalism of the consultation after he was contacted by one of Mori's canvassers.

He said: "As a result of that conversation, I was convinced I was being presented with seriously flawed information and expected to give answers based on that information."

Mr Stoddart said that his attempts to get clearer details of the survey fell on deaf ears.

He said: "The canvasser didn't have the faintest idea what was planned.

"He refused to discuss them and lost interest in the interview when he realised I didn't fall into the 16 to 34 age bracket."

The report's results were also criticised by the Chief Constable of Northumbria Police, Mike Craik.

He said: "It's worrying that people should be gaining a false impression about the merger proposals as a consequence of a public opinion survey.

"From the published results it is clear that 67 per cent of the people who have responded have stated they have insufficient information to make a judgement on the outcome.

"It also reveals that respondents were asked their view on a Tees Valley force, something that is not even a viable option. It is bizarre that when the survey shows that 67 per cent of the public are ill-informed, claims are then made on the basis of the response of the remaining 33 per cent."

The two chief constables are considering contacting the Market Research Society to see if the survey breached its code of conduct.

But the chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, Councillor Dave McLuckie, defended the poll.

He said the claims were totally without foundation and revealed that the company had already given a "point-by-point" reply to the allegations.

"This attempt by two chief constables to smear not only Cleveland Police Authority but one of the most respected research organisations in the country is, frankly, pretty disgraceful," said Coun McLuckie.

"Neither ourselves nor Mori can find any evidence to justify the claim that respondents were being asked to comment on Northumbria and Durham 'taking over' Cleveland."

"As for the claims from Mr Craik and Mr Stoddart that their communications centres have received 'numerous' complaints about the way the poll has been conducted, it is very hard to understand why that has happened when the Mori interviewers introduced themselves by making clear that they were - and I quote - 'carrying out a survey for Cleveland Police'.

"It seems reasonable to expect that, if people did have any concerns, they would have contacted the Cleveland force ... but, in fact, that has not happened." Poll results - Page 5