POLICE forces across the region have given their support to Durham Constabulary after the chief constable, Jon Stoddart, revealed that cuts may lead to the loss of 300 police officers.

The force told The Northern Echo that it would need to lose up to 300 officers to avoid sliding £10m into debt.

Last night, Sean Price, the chief constable of Cleveland Police, which suffered a financial crisis three years ago, offered to help Durham police in any way possible.

Mr Price said: "It is nearly three years ago that we found that we had a huge budget deficit.

"We now have a healthy balance and are in the second year of a three-year plan to bring us to a balance, without losing any police officers or PCSOs (police community support officers).

"Having been through the experience that we had in Cleveland, we can understand the concerns that Durham police and the police authority are having."

Cleveland Police made plans to save £7.3m within a year. It saved £10m.

The Home Office agreed to give Cleveland Police £6m over three years to help it slim down. The force shed 100 civilian staff jobs.

Mr Price said: "It is a really difficult position that Durham find themselves in and I am more than happy for our people to help in any way that we can."

Mike Craik, chief constable of Northumbria Police, also sympathised.

He said: "We have every sympathy with colleagues in forces which face severe financial hardship.

"Although we are not in a similar position, funding is already restricted and forces operate within constraints that are only likely to get tighter over time."

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said there had been no discussions about a reduction in the number of officers in North Yorkshire. Lord Brian Mackenzie, a former Dur-ham police officer and former national chairman of the Police Superintendents' Association, said: "I am horrified by the extent of this crisis. Any force would clearly be affected by the loss of something like a fifth of its officers, so I hope that it doesn't come to that.

"The public of Durham are served well by their police force, but they are victims of their own success.

"I hope the Government will do something about this."