AN MP has welcomed extra police manpower being deployed to the east Cleveland area – but has warned more are needed.

Simon Clarke, Conservative MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, welcomed the news that two extra police community support officers (PCSOs) were being allocated to the area before Christmas, but said more would be needed to tackle the concerns of local residents.

Local people held a rally at the Railway Arms in Brotton earlier this month, organised by Councillor Barry Hunt, to campaign for more police officers to tackle anti social behaviour, claiming Cleveland's resources were too focused on urban areas.

However it is understood the extra PCSOs were planned for the area before the rally.

Mr Clarke said: "While this is a welcome move in the right direction, an additional two PSCOs is nothing like enough to allay the worries and concerns of my east Cleveland constituents.

"They and I want and need to see more. I will keep pressing this on behalf of my constituents and I intend to take it up with our new Chief Constable when he or she is appointed."

Barry Coppinger, Labour Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, said: "Actions speak louder than words and Mr Clarke will have the chance to publicly demonstrate his opposition to cuts to Cleveland Police when the budget is voted on in Parliament in the coming weeks." He said a further real-term cut of £2.5-£3m was being planned by Government for the force next year, equating to 60 full-time police officers or 100 PCSOs.

He added: "Clearly this will impact on all communities, including east Cleveland, and comes on the back of seven years of cuts that have seen the government reduce funding to Cleveland Police by 36 per cent in real terms, resulting in the loss of over 500 police officers and PCSOs.

"I want Mr Clarke and other MPs and councillors from all parties to join me in doing all they can to persuade Government to allocate a real term increase in funding so we can start to reverse the cuts of the past seven years and recruit more frontline officers for the benefit of all local communities."

Mr Coppinger has also invited Mr Clarke to police headquarters to gain a full understanding from the Chief Constable as to how police resources are deployed across the force area and the challenges that are faced by Cleveland Police as a whole.