200 extra police officers might be on the cards

Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne is set to propose a maximum council tax rise at Friday’s crime panel meeting to fund 200 extra staff.

The maximum permitted increase would mean £24 a year extra from April for the average council tax payer living in a Band D property. The extra money would pay for 100 new Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), 50 more police officers and another 50 specialist civilian staff.

The force already plans to recruit 800 officers by 2022. Six hundred of these are needed to replace officers who leave or retire, and 200 will be additional officers.