CLEVELAND Police has seen more police officers and staff cut since the start of the Coalition government than any other force in England and Wales, Home Office figures show.

The number of police officers on the streets of force area fell by 381 or 22.09 per cent - from 1,724 in March 2010 to 1,343 in September 2014 - the highest drop in the country.

The figures emerged as Cleveland announced its recruitment freeze was now at an end, with up to 320 officers expected to be taken on over the next four years.

However, in the last year alone officer numbers in the force declined by 102 due to retirement and police men and women leaving to pursue other careers.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman confirmed that at the end of last year, there were 1,324 officers - down from 1,426 at the end of 2013.

Paul Brown, chairman of Cleveland Police Federation, said: “Cleveland has got the highest police officer number reduction in the country since 2010.

“We find the fact that Cleveland are recruiting is very encouraging, taking into consideration that nationally we have the highest percentage of cuts to the workforce but more importantly the highest percentage of police officer cuts in the country.

"As a federation we would support and encourage police officers coming in to bolster the officers of Cleveland at this time. But we have to look at the numbers in relation to police officers that are retiring or resigning to seek other employment, which is at an all-time high."

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said the figures were correct but said the reduction in police civilian staff (not officers) of 73.8 per cent was due to about 500 staff being transferred to its partner company Steria in 2010.

She added: "As an organisation, Cleveland Police remains focussed on delivering the best policing service it can with a clear focus on protecting our communities from harm. Cleveland Police is currently recruiting transferee officers and will, in the near future, open recruitment for new student officers."

She said Cleveland planned to recruit between 60 and 80 officers each year over the next four years.

In Durham, officer numbers between March 2010 and September 2014 dropped from 1,507 to 1,207 - a drop of 19.9 per cent, while in North Yorkshire the decline was just five per cent. In Northumbria, the decline was close to the national average at 15.38 per cent. Civilian staff cuts were 20 per cent at Durham, 29 per cent in Northumbria and 16 per cent in North Yorkshire.