CLEVELAND Police have never been far from the headlines in the past ten years. In the early-1990s they were making news for all the right reasons as forces from around the country were keen to copy the success of Zero Tolerance.

During the 1997 election campaign, Prime Minister-in-waiting Tony Blair and his Shadow Home Secretary-to-be, Jack Straw, were keen to be photographed with the man credited with introducing it, Ray Mallon.

But by the end of that year, the force was plunged into despair when Detective Superintendent Mallon was suspended in the Operation Lancet corruption probe.

The force lurched from one crisis to another and Chief Constable Barry Shaw fought off calls for his resignation every time a fresh controversy arose. He was finally replaced by Sean Price in April last year, but the problems have not gone away.

Yesterday, he had to admit his plans to put 200 more officers on the beat were being shelved after a £6.8m "black hole" was discovered in the force's budget.

Mr Price had hoped to raise an extra £5.1m through a controversial 28.9 per cent council tax precept rise to pay for the 100 extra officers and 100 community safety staff.

He convinced most council leaders on Teesside that it was a price worth paying for a bobby on the beat in every council ward in the force area.

But his most high-profile backer, Ray Mallon - now Mayor of Middlesbrough - yesterday withdrew his support after learning of the "deeply concerning" budget problems.

He ordered a hastily-arranged Press conference to warn: "I am not prepared to support the public being asked to give a single penny more until I am personally satisfied that the resources currently available are being properly managed.

"I still believe there is a need for additional police numbers, but before we ask the public to dig deep we have to be assured that this is where the money will go."

Mr Price pledged the savings would be found without job cuts, and that the service to the people of Teesside would not be affected. He also revealed plans to set a zero precept if, as expected, the Cleveland Police Authority refuses to back the recruitment of the 200 officers until the financial nightmare is resolved.

Authority chairman Ken Walker said it would be "unacceptable, improper and irresponsible for us to proceed with the budget proposals we had been hoping to put forward in the knowledge that there is such a serious underlying financial issue which has to be resolved".

He said: "I believe we have no choice but to urgently reconsider the situation in the light of this information.We would be failing in our responsibilities and duties if we did otherwise."