Cleveland Police could lean on potential financial support from the Home Office in order to meet the growing costs of the operation which followed summer riots in Hartlepool and Middlesbrough.
The ongoing bill for Operation Macadamia was recently said by Chief Constable Mark Webster to be in excess of £660,000.
Dozens of individuals who took part in the violent disorder in Hartlepool on 31 July and in Middlesbrough on 4 August, which saw police attacked and homes and vehicles damaged, have been arrested, charged and placed before the courts for sentencing.
But 143 people suspected of criminal offences have yet to be identified, meaning more detective work is required.
Operation Macadamia saw the setting up of what has been described as a full public order safety command structure, lasting three weeks.
Mr Webster told a recent meeting of the Cleveland Police and Crime Panel, which includes councillors and local community representatives, that 23 people had been jailed for a total of more than 43 years for their part in the disturbances and there had been a “positive impact on public confidence” from the action taken.
Eighty-eight people have been charged to date, 32 of which have previously been remanded in custody.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked the force how it intended to meet the costs of the operation and whether a specific sum had been earmarked, and where from.
In a statement, Assistant Chief Constable David Felton suggested that the operational costs of policing the violent events, and the cost of subsequent investigations could be supported with additional funding from the special grant for policing, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper having previously indicated that this would be the case.
The grant covers “exceptional events” that can require an unexpected financial outlay and is applied for from the Home Office.
ACC Felton said the response to the violent disorder continued and support from the public in providing information about offenders so they could face justice had been “overwhelming”.
He said: “Cleveland Police remains focussed on identifying those responsible and the force’s efforts are unwavering in working through CCTV and mobile phone footage, along with other lines of enquiry.”
A spokeswoman for the Home Office confirmed Ms Cooper had written to affected forces about the cost of the riots but made no further comment.
Last month Ms Cooper refused to rule out cuts to policing budgets in answering questions from Sky News, despite pledging to put more officers on the streets.
The Home Office is one of a number of departments awaiting the outcome of a Government spending review, the details of which are expected following this month’s Budget.
