COUNCIL tax payers will contribute an extra £843,000 to Cleveland Police after a six per cent precept hike was agreed.

The rise, first proposed last December, was agreed yesterday by members of the Cleveland Police Authority.

After the three per cent taken up by inflation, £305,000 will be spent on 12 extra officers and £233,000 on overtime during the next financial year.

The option chosen was one of three suggestions put to the police authority. The other two would have meant rises of only £616,000 or £729,000, according to different council tax subsidy clawbacks.

Accounted for in the rise are increases in several of the force's core running costs.

In a breakdown of the budget, the cost of special inquiries, including Operation Lancet, is allocated £1,500 for 2001/2002, a rise of £500 on the previous year, and the amount for police pensions goes up by more than £600.

Each of the force's four districts are allocated separate allowances, with Middlesbrough securing the highest amount of £12,851.

Police Authority member Russell Hart said: "People constantly ask for more police officers and that there is a perception of effectiveness. They cannot be denied this."

Chairman Ken Walker said: "There is a very large dissatisfaction with the number of officers in the four districts. This is an opportunity to assist the police to tackle crime."

But Councillor Ian Jeffrey said: "Throwing police officers at the problem is not going to sort it out in the long term. We need to address poverty."