Police chiefs who oppose the Government should be forced to stand for election, a Black Country Midland MP has demanded.

John Spellar (Lab Warley) said chief constables should be chosen at the ballot box like US sheriffs, after one senior police officer attacked plans to identify paedophiles.

Welsh Chief Constable Terry Grange, who heads Dyfed Powys Police, criticised proposals to let parents know about sex attackers living in their neighbourhood.

The Home Secretary, John Reid, revealed he was considering introducing the measure to protect children.

Mr Spellar said police officers who wanted to get involved in politics should be judged at the ballot box. And he said Mr Grange was out of touch with what parents wanted.

The MP said: "This is the latest outburst by a chief con-stable about deeply political matters

"If they want to be in the political arena they should have to stand for election as they do in parts of America.

"Then we will see who is actually in touch with public opinion."

Home Secretary John Reid has announced he is sending a junior Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe, to learn lessons from the operation in the United States of "Megan's Law".

This allows parents access to information about paedophiles who may be living in their neighbourhood. It was introduced following the murder of seven-year-old Megan Kanka in July 1994 by a known paedophile.

Mr Reid's initiative follows a six-year campaign for "Sarah's Law" since the murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne, led by her parents.

Mr Grange has complained that the Government is making policy "on the hoof" driven by media headlines.

He accused Dr Reid of paying too much attention to the demands of The News of the World, the tabloid newspaper which has supported calls for a change in the law.

However, he is not the only critic of the Government's plans. Martin Salter, a Labour MP who sits on the home affairs select committee, warned the proposals would drive sex offenders underground.

And David Wilson, professor of criminology at the University of Central England in Birmingham, agreed.