CLEVELAND Police Authority is raising more tax and setting itself a two-year target to increase officers by 160 and civilian support officers by a similar number.

The budget news coincided with Home Office performance statistics showing Cleveland police compared well with urban forces elsewhere.

Authority members recently agreed a budget for the coming year of more than £107m, which it said would enable Cleveland police to initially boost total officer numbers by 60 to 1,660.

Likewise, 60 support officers would be taken on in the first year, adding to the existing 40. The remaining numbers would be made up the following year, it proposed.

The increase for most council tax payers, who are in the A and B tax bands, would be no more than 36p per week, leading to an annual precept of £80 or £93.

The band D precept will be £120 and band E £146, rising to £240 for the highest band H.

Police authority chairman Coun Ken Walker said: "I believe the vast majority of the public will recognise these proposals as a sensible way forward, building on our experience of the past year, where it has been demonstrated that targeting extra resources where they are most needed can bring crime down.

"Twelve months ago, we decided that extra funding was required to deal with severe pressures in the Stockton and Middlesbrough districts, and the results speak for themselves.

"For example, burglaries have fallen by a third in Stockton and halved in Middlesbrough. We are seeing reductions in other crimes with increased detentions, arrests and charges."

He said similar achievements had to be made in other districts, such as Langbaurgh. Hit squads were a key part of the strategy to back up local police teams.

Experience showed that hit squads brought down crime and anti-social behaviour, and greatly reassured communities.

Other challenges included national police schemes, such as the Operation Ore child pornography investigation, and the protection of vulnerable people and children.

The case of London girl Victoria Climbie, who died after a long period of abuse, had led to an inquiry and series of recommendations for the police, medical and social services and other professions.

Resources were also needed to set up a major incident unit in Cleveland, and introduce a number plate recognition system to track stolen vehicles and those used in crime.

On the new Home Office performance figures, Coun Walker said: "These figures totally discredit the arguments of those who have sought to criticise the force's performance. They should boost the morale of officers and the public."

The Home Office reported that Cleveland's crime reduction, investigation and public safety work was comparable to the West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Humberside and Greater Manchester forces,

Burglaries were slightly higher, but vehicle crime and robberies lower.

Slightly more offences were detected in Cleveland than elsewhere, and 21pc of offenders were brought to justice, compared to the 18pc average. More serious drug offenders were prosecuted, too.

In Cleveland, 39pc of citizens surveyed thought their force was doing a good job, compared with 44pc elsewhere. Cleveland residents were less worried about violence but slightly more about general disorder.