yesterday after another case collapsed due to the non-appearance of a Police officer.

He launched into the attack after throwing out a case against an alleged drink-driver when a Police witness did not show up.

Director of Public Prosecutions Khamisi Tokunbo last month attacked Police for a "lack of discipline'', claiming cases were being dropped because officers did not appear in court.

But last night, he accepted that an error in his office led to the non-appearance of officers yesterday.

Crown counsel Wayne Caines yesterday asked for the drink driving case against Greg McLeod to be adjourned because a Police witness was not available.

Rejecting the application and dropping the case against Mr. McLeod, Mr. King said: "The Crown is under an obligation to have its witnesses present for trial at the appointed time unless there is a strong reason for their non-appearance.

"The DPP must not unduly delay the process of trial or put Her Majesty's subjects to inconvenience.

"No good or proper reason has been provided for the absence of Crown witnesses in this case.

"Consequently, in the interests of justice on behalf of this defendant, I reject the application for an adjournment.'' Mr. Caines protested: "Our department on a regular basis aims to do a service with the most amount of dignity and aplomb.

"It is unfair to suggest this occurrence happens regularly.'' King speaks out But Mr. King retorted: "You were not there when the Director (Mr. Tokunbo) spouted and said he's having trouble getting certain kinds of witnesses to come to court and it makes his people look small, and you are in that position today.

"You can't make bricks without straw if you are not supplied with the straw.

You are sent here to do the job and they have not sent you the tools.'' Earlier, Mr. King had likened the non-appearance of witnesses to the British Army going to the Falklands without troops.