Policing in Essex is to receive a boost next year with an increase in funding of six per cent.

The Home Office has released figures for each force with Essex getting one of the highest leaps in cash.

The 6.1 per cent boost sees Essex Police pocketing £185.3 million for the year 2001/02 instead of the £174.8 million it was given this year.

Nearby forces are to also cash in on a bigger payrise than colleagues around the country.

Kent Police is to see a 6.9 per cent increase taking funding for 2001/02 to £204.4 million while Hertfordshire Police will pocket £122.9 million after a 4.8 per cent leap.

The average rise for forces up and down the country is five per cent.

Home secretary Jack Straw claims the boost is the biggest since the early 1980s.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.