Hertfordshire households to pay more tax to support police

The move is set to raise an additional £7million for Hertfordshire Constabulary, which the commissioner hopes will respond to a demand from the public to see more police officers in their neighbourhoods.

It means the rise works out to a 6.73 per cent increase in the Police and Crime Commissioner precept across Hertfordshire – with the bill for an “average” Band D property rising from £223 to £238 per year.

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For Band A properties, this will mean a £10 annual increase from April this year. Band H households will pay £30 extra.

Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd said: “This budget will enable the constabulary to maintain Hertfordshire’s largest ever police service.”

David Lloyd (Image: Hertfordshire Constabulary)

Last year 300 extra officers joined Hertfordshire Constabulary.

It comes as Watford Borough Council agreed to raise council tax by 2.9 per cent and Hertfordshire County Council said it would raise taxes by 4.99 per cent – both figures are the maximum allowed without a referendum.

This means Band D households in the county would pay £1,605.63 from April, in addition to the Police and Crime Commissioner and other precepts collected.