A POLICE chief has promised the public more police officers which they can be proud of.

Yesterday, Cleveland Chief Constable Sean Price met the first 24 of 60 recruits and said he was delighted to be welcoming high quality people to add to the Cleveland Police team.

He said: "We have a rigorous selection and training process and the people of Cleveland can be confident they come out wanting to work with our partners and work with the communities to make Teesside a safer place.

"They are going to be part of the huge increase we are putting into community policing teams in all four districts and that is what the people said they wanted - more officers they can identify in their local communities."

Cleveland Police Authority chairman Councillor Ken Walker accompanied Mr Price when he met the first batch of 24 recruits who are undergoing their training at Cleveland Police headquarters.

Coun Walker said: "The Police Authority and the police have listened to the people who have said they want more policing in the community. With the new officers, the new Police Community Support Officers and the Change Programme, we are going to be able to achieve that.''