COUNCILLORS in a Teesside town are calling for an investigation into Cleveland Police.

A motion of no confidence in the under-fire force, proposed by Hartlepool Borough Council's opposition Labour group, received unanimous cross-party support at a meeting on Thursday night.

The motion comes just after a council tax blow for the town.

The authority voted to raise basic council tax by 4.5 per cent, but the addition of the police precept - which signals a 38 per cent rise on last year's figure - means the overall tax will rise by 6.7 per cent.

Cash-strapped Cleveland Police is facing a £6.6m deficit, leaving it with a choice of making officer cutbacks, or raising the police precept.

But recent controversy surrounding the £7m anti-corruption inquiry, Operation Lancet, also contributed to the no confidence motion.

The motion read: "The Labour Group has noted with regret the gradual and continuing erosion in the Hartlepool public's confidence with regard to Cleveland Police service.

"The Labour Group believes the loss of public confidence has been accelerated by recent speculation in respect of the Cleveland Police budget and the implications for Hartlepool council tax levels, and by more recent developments."

The motion also calls for the Home Secretary to establish an independent inquiry into the force's management and finances, to re-establish public confidence.

Stan Kaiser, an independent councillor, called for a ban on councillors sitting on the police authority.

Only three councillors abstained - Labour leader Russell Hart, Maureen Goosey and Kevin Kelly, all members of the police authority.

Coun Kaiser said last night: "The Cleveland Police Authority's public relations over the past four years have been absolutely abominable.

"It is time there was a clear-out of those officers who have led the force into areas of disgrace."