EXTRA staff have led to a substantial improvement in a North-East Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), according to an inspection report.

However, the CPS inspectorate said there were some concerns about its handling and monitoring of racist incident cases.

The report, due to be published today, also said Cleveland CPS should raise its profile in the community and develop links with ethnic communities.

Other recommendations include implementing a national quality system immediately, more effective working relationships with Teesside Magistrates' Courts and better deployment of staff.

The inspectors said the service had managed its budget well and its quality of decision-making about cases was good.

A spokesman for the inspectors said: "The area is performing well and has achieved substantial improvements since the last inspection.

"The overall quality of instructions to counsel is high. Prosecution advocacy is satisfactory and the service received by witnesses at court is also strong."

Chief crown prosecutor David Magson said: "I welcome the inspectorate's report. It shows the area is performing well and has achieved substantial improvement.

"The recruitment of 28 additional people, including lawyers, caseworkers and administrative staff, has enabled the area to improve the service offered to the criminal justice system in Cleveland."

The report found that the team of 98 CPS staff dealt with 21,866 cases in magistrates' courts, 1,945 cases in the crown court and gave advice before charge in a further 539 cases last year.