COMPLAINTS against officers in a North-East police force have rocketed.

There was a 70 per cent rise in complaints during the past financial year, compared to the previous corresponding 12 months.

Under new recording rules, witnesses and their acquaintances can now lodge complaints about the same incident.

Members of the Cleveland Police Authority are set to consider at a meeting next week a report which shows 359 new complaint files were opened between April 1 last year and March 31 this year.

And there were 524 associated complaints relating to the 359 grievances, compared to a previous 211 cases with 293 linked complaints.

The force also faces 96 complaints of incivility, compared to 36 over the same period last year, and 83 allegations of assault, compared to 69 the previous year.

Most of the complaints centred on circumstances surrounding arrests, of which there were 23,998 during the period.

Internal misconduct cases rose to 47 from 25 cases in the previous year.

Figures also show a 28.5 per cent rise in civil claims against the police, 46 per cent of which were successfully defended.

The 68 claims settled cost the force £481,476, compared to £558,742, the previous year.

Explaining the apparent increase in complaints lodged against Cleveland Police, a spokesman said: "There is a new system in place which allows more people to complain.

"In the past, only the aggrieved person could complain. But now, witnesses and many others can make complaints.''