The battle to become the next Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria came to the House of Commons as a Labour MP clashed with government ministers over cuts to the force.
Chi Onwurah , Labour MP for Newcastle Central, invited ministers to sign a petition launched by the Labour candidate in the contest.
But Home Office Minister Nick Hurd instead praised the Tory candidate.
It came as voters prepared to go to the polls on Thursday to elect a new Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to oversee Northumbria force, following the resignation of former PCC Dame Vera Baird, who stepped down from the role to become Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales.
Ms Onwurah told the House of Commons: "Northumbria police has lost a quarter of its funding and 1,000 police officers due to Government cuts. Labour’s candidate in the police and crime commissioner elections on Thursday is so concerned that she has raised a petition to reverse the cuts. Will the Minister send the next Prime Minister a message that he cares about community policing and sign Kim’s petition?"
Mr Hurd responded by telling her: "Northumbria police has had its funding increased by £18 million in a process that the hon. Lady opposed. The excellent Conservative candidate in those elections ... is absolutely committed to neighbourhood policing, as are this Government. We are making police funding a priority."
Candidates in the election include Labour's Kim McGuinness, Conservative Robbie Moore, Liberal Democrat Jonathan Wallace and independent candidate Georgina Hill.
The region's first commissioner election was held in November 2012 and the second in May 2016, both of which were won comfortably by Dame Vera for Labour.
For many voters, it will be the third time they have been asked to go to the polls in less than three months - following local council and European Parliament elections in May.
The role pays £85,00-a-year. It involves scrutinising the work of the police, setting general policies and representing the public, but has no involvement in day-to-day policing decision. The Chief Constable remains in charge of the force.
