Officers can apply for a career break of up to five years

Officers can apply for unpaid sabbaticals of up to five years.

This week, a judge was forced to dismiss a case because an officer on a career break in Spain who was due to give evidence could not be contacted.

But the Association of Chief Police Officers says the breaks are an "effective way of retaining officers".

'No cost'

It is thought more than 665 officers are currently absent from work on long-term leave, including Pc Cray Birch, who was unable to attend the dismissed case in Luton because he is teaching golf in the Costa del Sol.

Officers can apply for the breaks after completing a two-year probationary period with the final decision resting with their chief constable.

Fears have been raised that training replacements for those on leave costs the taxpayer millions of pounds.

The breaks can only be agreed by senior officers who will make judgements on whether there are replacements available among new recruits Acpo

But Acpo says there is no cost to the police service.

The association fully supports the career breaks, a spokesman said.

"The breaks can only be agreed by senior officers who will make judgements on whether there are replacements available among new recruits.

"It is an important and very effective way of retaining officers who may otherwise leave the service."

Case dismissed

Officers are able to return to their jobs at the same rank and on the same salary as before.

Many use the break to undertake charity work overseas.

I had in my list a trial of dangerous driving which should have gone ahead, except one of the officers is on a career break - wait for it, until 2008 - and was last heard of somewhere in Spain Judge Ronald Moss

Judge Ronald Moss condemned the procedure on Thursday after he was forced to dismiss a case against a man accused of dangerous driving.

Window fitter Cyril Mitchell, 34, was accused of dangerous driving after a police chase through Luton in which he was alleged to have driven at twice the speed limit on the wrong side of the road.

Judge Moss was told by Bedfordshire police that an error by a civilian member of staff meant that Pc Birch would not be able to give evidence until 2008.

Mr Moss told jurors: "I had in my list a trial of dangerous driving which should have gone ahead, except one of the officers is on a career break - wait for it, until 2008 - and was last heard of somewhere in Spain."