CLEVELAND Police has emerged as being the only police force in the country to have a zero per cent gender pay gap.

Despite neighbouring forces such as Durham having pay gaps like 27 per cent, and 20 per cent in North Yorkshire, figures submitted by Cleveland to the Government Equalities Commission showed a pay gap of exactly zero per cent.

The figures submitted are supposed to the pay gap as a whole, not like-for-like jobs.

The gender pay gap is calculated as the difference between the average salaries of men and women - it is not the same as equal pay, where firms are required to pay people doing the same job the same salary regardless of gender.

The national median gender pay gap is 18.4 per cent - 23 police forces have a pay gap at or below the national average, while 21 are higher.

Chief Inspector Kathy Prudom, of Cleveland Police, said: "Cleveland Police is dedicated to being a diverse and fair organisation.

"Recent figures around the gender pay gap are encouraging, however equality is more than just a number, it is an entire way of working and behaving. Our Everyone Matters programme is working towards this true equality and inclusion for all."

Every police force in England and Wales has submitted its figures to the Government Equalities Office, something all companies and public bodies with 250 employees or more must do.

Durham Police's pay gap was the fourth widest in the country.

A spokeswoman said: “Clearly there is a need to eliminate any gender pay gap as shown in this report, and the Constabulary will strive to continue to achieve this.”

North Yorkshire Police had the 12th largest pay gap at 20.8 per cent, while Northumbria's was below the national average at 15 per cent.

North Yorkshire Police’s Deputy Chief Constable, Lisa Winward, said that the figures highlighted there were more men than women in higher-paid jobs in the organisation and changes would be made where they were needed.

Cleveland came out with the narrowest pay gap at zero per cent,

The Equalities Commission has published the median pay gaps as submitted by each force, and will spent the next few months checking through all the figures to ensure they are correct.