Colchester could see at least ten extra bobbies on the beat following an increase in Government funding for Essex Police.

However, residents will also be expected to pay more in council tax to pay for new officers.

The Home Office has announced its provisional figures for police funding in 2019 and 2020.

Essex Police is set to receive £298.8 million, an increase of £23 million.

An extra £3.3 million grant will be given to the force and another £2.9 million is set to go towards officers’ pensions.

The remaining £16.8 million will come from the council tax precept, working out to an increase of £2 per month for a Band D household.

Roger Hirst, Police Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex said: “This extra support means that any money raised locally can be spent locally on policing in Essex.

“People know how stretched policing is.

“They want more officers and I believe they are willing to pay more to get them. I recently ran a survey to test whether the public were willing to invest more in Essex Police.

“We had a strong response with over 71 per cent of people willing to pay more and more than two thirds of these were willing to pay an additional £20 a year, or even more.”

Last year 150 new officers were recruited across Essex, with ten being designated to Colchester.

Mr Hirst said at least this total number would be recruited again.

Mike Lilley, councillor responsible for planning, public safety and licensing, said he had been calling for more resources for some time.

He said: “Any new funds which are coming to the police we have got to be thankful for. However, it is not enough and we need to return to the levels of funding from 2010.

“This does not go anywhere near this. I am not particularly happy people will have to pay more again.”

Colchester MP Will Quince said he had lobbied Home Secretary Sajid Javid for more funding.

He said: “When I speak with people around Colchester, crime and the fear of crime are the biggest issues people raise, particularly around the town centre.

“Yes, people will be paying a bit more through their council tax but the people I speak to realise it is probably necessary, especially with the changing face of crime with things like drug dealing across county lines. This extra funding really is great news.”

The precept will be added to the demands made by borough and county councils which make up the bulk of the council tax.

Essex County Council leader David Finch said the Government’s finance settlement for Essex made disappointing reading and warned of “significant challenges ahead”.

The county has not been selected for the business rate pilot schemes which would have seen it keep 75 per cent of company’s taxes.