TAXPAYERS in Essex could be asked to pay up to £50 a year more for policing.

Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston is campaigning to have the cap on council tax increases for policing removed.

Essex Police sets a levy which is added to the council tax demands of Essex County Council, borough and parish councils and Essex Fire and Rescue.

Mr Alston wants to bring Essex police’s demand closer to the £200 a year set by most councils around the country.

Residents in an average band D property in Essex currently pay less than £150.

It means, with more Government cuts looming, Essex could soon have the fewest police officers per head of population and residents pay among the least for policing of any in the country.

Mr Alston said: “I will make the case with the new Government for the removal of the cap on any policing precept increase for 2016-17.

“This would enable me to address the council taxpayer funding shortfall and deliver firm financial foundations for Essex Police. I will be accountable for this decision.”

Mr Alston added: “I believe Essex Police has the budget to continue to deliver professional policing throughout 2015-16 but beyond that the funding situation is perilous.

“Essex Police receives less money from council taxpayers than almost any other force in the country.

“The simple truth is the budget of Essex Police is falling further behind that of other forces year by year.

“With around 85 per cent of the police budget spent on salaries, however hard we work to deliver efficiency, this growing imbalance will have a direct impact on the force’s effectiveness.

“Excellent work by Essex Police has contributed to a ten per cent drop in the number of house burglaries, robberies and vehicle crimes. However, there has been a significant increase in violent crime, and serious sexual offences reported to police have increased by almost a third.”

The extra funding would pay for more than 300 extra officers to help combat crimes like child exploitation, online grooming, abuse of the elderly and cyber fraud as well as organised crime.

Mr Alston said: “I support low taxation, but I also have the responsibility of ensuring Essex Police is fit to face the challenges of the future.”