THOUSANDS of households face an increase in their council tax to prevent a cut in the number of police officers.

Councillor Ken Walker, chairman of the Cleveland Police Authority, said that despite a recent increase there was still a "yawning gap'' to fill.

The choice, he said, was for people to dig deeper into their pockets next year or witness a cut in police numbers.

This year's rise in the council precept brought in an additional £2.4m to pay for policing on Teesside.

The rise meant a rise of £17.74p for Band A taxpayers and an increase of £20.71p for people in Band B.

A report to be considered by members of the police authority next week warns there is likely to be a shortfall next year of more than £1.8m between what the authority needs to maintain present levels of service and the amount which the Government will provide.

It says the shortfall can only be met through a further rise in the precept of no more than 23p per week for the majority of taxpayers, or cuts equivalent to between 60 and 70 officers.

Cleveland Police will need £101.5m next year just to maintain services, compared with £95.7m this year.

Coun Walker said: "We will certainly be making the strongest possible representations to the Government over the inadequacy of the current funding situation, but I think it is important that we spell out the facts - and the choices - to the public as early as possible in the budget process, in order that we can have a properly informed debate about the way ahead.''

Cleveland Police said that this year's extra funding resulted in 15 more officers on the beat in Middlesbrough and crime detections up 36 per cent.

In Stockton, increased patrols saw burglaries slashed by 12.6 per cent, a seven per cent drop in car crime, and an overall fall in crime of 8.5per cent. Police response times to calls also improved.

Elsewhere, North Yorkshire Police Authority may face tough decisions if there is the expected big gap between what the force needs and what the Government provides.

Jeremy Holderness, clerk to the authority, said: "It appears we are not too dissimilar from Cleveland, without knowing how much a gap there is.''

Durham's precept went up 14 per cent this year, cushioned by £350,000 from reserves, putting a record number of officers on the beat. Steve Cheston, Durham Constabulary director of finance and administration, said at the time that fixing the budget had been difficult.