CALLS for a Home Office inquiry into Operation Lancet were growing last night following a £1.9m Government donation to help meet mounting costs.

Cleveland Police Authority announced yesterday the money will offset the major expense of the police corruption investigation.

Now Labour peer and former senior police officer Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, is predicting greater ministerial involvement in the affair.

"If the Government is giving £1.9m, that illustrates how high the total cost is," he said.

"I think it will create an even bigger resolve by the Home Secretary to see if it's being well spent."

Lord Mackenzie added: "It makes a high-level inquiry more likely, and as far as I'm concerned, that will be the right course."

The three-year inquiry saw eight officers - including zero tolerance pioneer Detective Superintendent Ray Mallon - suspended by Cleveland Police.

Operation Lancet, which has failed to produce any criminal charges, has cost the taxpayer an estimated £5m-£7m to date.

Last month, Cleveland Police Authority earmarked a minimum of half a million pounds to be spent on disciplinary hearings in the coming months.

June Goodchild, a campaigner for suspended Middlesbrough CID boss Det Supt Mallon, echoed Lord Mackenzie's sentiments.

She said: "If they had dealt with it properly in the first few weeks, it would have been over.

"I would welcome Government intervention in putting things right. At the end of the day, all of us council tax payers have been robbed."

Councillor Ken Walker, chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, said the donation was a welcome recognition of the financial pressure placed on both the authority and the force as a result of Lancet.

"The money now agreed by the Home Office will make a significant impact on front-line policing," he said.

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar said: "The £1.9m grant is a recognition of the magnitude of the issue.

"It shows that urgent action has had to be taken by Government to stop a hole appearing in the accounts of the Cleveland force.

"The Police Authority must now open the books to show exactly how much has been spent on Lancet, so that this Government grant can be seen in context."