During a 24-year police career, Colin Terry has risen to the rank of chief superintendent.

He was chosen to represent his force at a memorial service at Ground Zero in New York, after which he said: 'I have never felt so proud to be a British police officer.'

The 48-year-old father of two is currently on leave from his secondment to an EU mission training police in Afghanistan, where the Taliban is a constant threat.

'Insensitive': Chief Superintendent Colin Terry dressed up as Osama Bin Laden (left) for the fancy dress parade in Grampound village, Cornwall

All of which makes it hard to understand why, days before the anniversary of the September 11 atrocities, he chose to attend his village's carnival dressed as Osama Bin Laden.

Spectators were left aghast at the sight of the officer wearing robes and a mask of the master terrorist.

Today colleagues at Devon and Cornwall Police accused Mr Terry of 'unacceptable' behaviour.

They said he would have been subject to misconduct proceedings had he not been on secondment to the Foreign Office and therefore beyond the force's discipline.

'Misguided': The officer poses with a young girl at the event but his force has described his choice of outfit as 'inappropriate'

A spokesman said: 'The decision to participate in the carnival and the choice of costume were both personal decisions by Chief Superintendent Terry himself.

'Whilst we believe his actions were misguided rather than malicious, they were clearly inappropriate and we would condemn any such actions by any police officer as unacceptable.'

Mr Terry spent 24 years in the force

He added that the matter would be investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, while a Foreign Office spokesman said it was 'considering next steps to be taken'.

Yesterday Mr Terry tried desperately to make amends for his antics at the annual carnival in the Cornish village of Grampound, where he lives with his family.

He insisted he had never meant to cause offence.

'Possibly someone could take a negative connotation but it is important for me and the village that no one does,' he said.

'This is a local event that has been running for many years, raising money for charity.

'I just try and contribute in my small way to what has been, for many years a successful carnival.'

He continued: 'I'm disappointed that people are linking my occupation to a carnival. I don't work in the UK any more.'

However he then added that his costume of choice is always connected to what he does for a living, saying: 'The point of the costume was to give a clue to locals about who I was.

Decorated: Chief Supt Terry (bottom centre) has been awarded seven commendations for his work but onlookers attacked his costume

'I've dressed up as a police officer, a cartoon character and a pilot. It's all a clue as to who the person in the costume is.'

During the carnival on Saturday, the officer was asked by a spectator if he knew his costume could be considered inappropriate.

Photographer Paul Williams said the policeman replied: 'Yes,' before adding: 'This ties in with my work at the moment. I'm actually working in Afghanistan.'

Not everyone was offended by the costume, however.

Donna Still, the chairman of Grampound Carnival Committee, said the event, which is more than 100 years old, has a long history of political entries.

'Everyone just thought it was very amusing,' she said. 'Quite often you'll get topical things from the news.'

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