'Less able' police officers are being issued with a toe-curling new guide on how to spell.

Top brass are fed up with clangers in crime reports that prove some officers struggle with simple words.

Superintendent Gary Knighton compiled a booklet for 2,000 officers to explain that someone who provides information is a source — not a sauce.

His tip for PCs uncertain how many ‘c’s and ‘s’s there are in “necessary” is to remember shirts have one collar and two sleeves.

The differences between “two” and “too”, “threw” and “through” and “weather” and “whether” are also explained.

A list of useful spellings includes words such as alarm, appeal, court, custody, forms, gender, know, liar, paid and swab.

Copies of the Fast Facts for Policing booklet are being handed to members of the Derbyshire force.

Personnel chief Superintendent Knighton also provides a guide to the 24-hour clock pointing out that 10pm is 22.00.

One cop said: “It is so patronising. This is like a primary school not a modern police force.

“It is gobsmacking that thousands of pounds have been spent on this booklet. It has upset a lot of the older guys.

“Recruits are taken from all types of social and economic backgrounds and some can’t spell.

“Next we will get a guide on how to apply handcuffs.”

Derbyshire Police refused to comment last night.