CLEVELAND Police's relationship with the public is being damaged by its hard-line approach to speeding, according to a Government police watchdog.

In a report published yesterday, Dan Crompton, HM Inspector of Constabulary, said the force's crackdown on speeding was putting an avoidable strain on police-public relations.

And his inspection, which was carried out in July, uncovered concerns from officers that the tough stance was disrupting police services.

Mr Crompton said: "Operational officers felt strongly that the current robust approach to speed enforcement, when speed limits were exceeded by very marginal parameters, was adversely affecting wider service delivery and was placing an avoidable strain on police-public relations."

He also suggested the force needed to review the way it dealt with higher-level drug crime and improve its use of criminal intelligence.

But Chief Constable Barry Shaw claimed the report failed to recognise the positive results of the crackdown on speed.

He said the force would continue to implement Government policy to reduce deaths and casualties on roads with a proven accident record.

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Labour MP Ashok Kumar said the report confirmed what many of his constituents constantly told him.

"I think it's important that the police do take speed seriously, but if it has to be about priorities, then tackling crime has to be the top priority."