a drugs-busting operation.

And Environment Minister Irving Pearman last night confirmed he had already sought legal advice on clearing his name by taking allegations against him to court.

Mr. Irving declined to name who he might pursue for damages -- but he said "quite possibly'' the Police force would be a target.

He said: "I will take legal advice. It's being worked on -- I have a lawyer looking at the situation.'' Mr. Pearman added: "The political side is done now. It's a question of Irving Pearman and my personal reputation.'' Mr. Pearman stressed that he suppported the undercover anti-street drug dealing Operation Cleansweep -- and any other measure to combat the drugs menace.

But he said: "That's not the issue -- the issue is that there were people apparently photographing cheques to people who legitimately worked for me and that's the sort of thing I would look to pursue.'' The news is the latest twist in a long-running saga involving Mr. Pearman, allegations about drugs and later his personal life.

The row broke out after two people were arrested as part of Cleansweep, an undercover operation to net alleged street drug dealers, and who were found to have cashed cheques made out to them by Mr. Pearman.

Mr. Pearman later said that he had been told by Police Commissioner Colin Coxall that a man -- who was not identified -- was prepared to testify that the cheques were in payment for drugs.

The Minister, who flatly denied any involvement in the drugs scene, insisted the cheques were in payment for work around his Warwick home. Mr. Pearman himself later revealed that there had also been allegations concerning his private life -- allegations he also totally denied.

Premier Pamela Gordon, who in July declined to speculate on the identity of the "three wise heads'' who got together and suggested Mr. Pearman should step down -- although she said that Governor Thorold Masefield had been "badly advised'' -- earlier this month named the three as Mr. Masefield, Deputy Governor Peter Willis and Mr. Coxall.

POLICE POL