A NORTH-EAST police authority is asking taxpayers to find more money for extra officers - on top of a six per cent budget increase.

The extra cash would fund additional Cleveland Police officers to patrol the streets of Teesside.

Councillor Ken Walker, chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, has written to each of the area's four local authorities, suggesting the idea.

But at a Police Authority meeting yesterday, other members complained they had not agreed to the proposal.

The idea of asking people for yet more money follows this year's six per cent rise in the Authority's precept - the amount it takes from council tax to fund police work.

Out of that, it has pledged to spend £305,000 on 12 extra officers.

Coun Walker said despite the earlier increase, he believed people would accept a further increase if it improved the police service.

"There is a willingness amongst the public to support the principle of paying more, provided they can see it really will mean more officers in their area," he said.

"I hope our local councils will respond positively to my approach, and I have pointed out that every £25,000 they felt able to generate would provide an extra officer in their area."

Coun Walker is also pressing the Home Office to provide funding for more officers and is calling for an end to the current financing system, which makes the police authority give back a third of £1m each year.

He wants any surplus income from a pilot scheme, in which money from speeding fines is used to fund speed cameras, to be kept by the authority rather than returned to the Government. Currently, any money left over after buying extra cameras goes to the Treasury.

The scheme has proved so successful that it is expected to raise £850,000 this year