Job cuts could be on the horizon for the beleaguered Cleveland police force but bosses have promised not to reduce front-line officers.

Faced with the prospect of having to make nearly £4.5 million in savings in next year's budget the force is carrying out a root and branch overhaul in a bid to cut costs.

Vice chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, Coun Dave McLuckie, said although no definite decision has been made about the level of cuts he warned members that there was no 'sacred cows' in the force.

"We cannot avoid pain. There are some extremely difficult decisions to be made," he said. "It is not going to be easy, there are going to be casualties in jobs. They will be the last resort but I don't think we can avoid them.

"There are no sacred cows but we are committed to keeping the same number of front-line officers."

The force is still reeling from making £7.3 million worth of budget cuts for this year and now find themselves having to find another £4.5m without hammering the Council Taxpayer.

Coun McLuckie added: "I don't believe this force should spend money we cannot afford. If we cannot afford it we don't do it. There are some tough times ahead."

The tight budget constraints will impact on the plans for growth according to authority member Alf Illingworth, who said the force is in the grip of a financial crisis.

"This crisis results in the authority having to cut back on expenditure because growth is not an option," he said. "If we are going to find this sort of saving then the pain is going to be felt in police numbers and the support staff."

Sergeant Chris Pendlington (CORR) of Cleveland Police Federation, speaking after the meeting, said: "People aren't being left in the dark but it is unsettling. We are being fully consulted and kept up to date but nothing has been cast in concrete yet and we won't find out anything for certain until the New Year.

"The support staff will have some concern but they are still doing their jobs to the best of their ability and giving the force 100 percent."