A NORTH police force that has been dogged by financial difficulties is beginning to put its troubled past behind it.

A Government report indicates that Cleveland Police has made significant progress in its attempt to address the financial problems that almost crippled the force two years ago.

Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary Ken Williams praised the work of Chief Constable Sean Price and the chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, Councillor Dave McLuckie, for tightening the budget after the discovery of a £7.3m deficit.

The stringent controls resulted in the inspector releasing the remainder of a £6.3m rescue package the Home Office granted to the force.

Coun McLuckie said the report proved the force was being run in a more efficient and cost-effective manner.

He said: "It says we are now a completely different beast.

"We have taken on board the recommendations from the inspectorate and our operations are completely different.

"There are a whole raft of changes that will enable us to access pots of money that were not previously available to us."

The report pinpointed fraught relations between the chief constable and the previous authority chairman, Ken Walker, for helping to cause the financial problems, but said it was little regard for financial controls before the discovery of the deficit in January 2004 that led to the crisis.

Mr Price said: "In the past two years, we have been working very hard to change the culture and the way the force operates.

"I think it has been borne out in the inspection that we now keep a tight financial grip, while at the same time improving the performance of the force."

The report said: "The impression gained by Her Majesty's Inspector in this inspection is that Cleveland Police Authority and force are now better configured, both in structure and staffing."

Another step forward for the force will be made today, when workers finish the Middlesbrough division headquarters being built in the St Hilda's area of the town.

The headquarters, on the site of the former St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral, is part of a £39m investment in stations by the force.