Plans to increase funding for policing in the county put forward by Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards have been unanimously approved.

The PCC proposed an extra £18.8m in increased funding for Hertfordshire Constabulary with a focus on protecting front-line policing and neighbourhood officers.

Presenting his budget to Hertfordshire's Police and Crime Panel Mr Ash-Edwards reported how the average £14 a year precept increase had been backed by the majority in a publicconsultation.

He outlined how the extra funding will ensure a new record high number of police officers is achieved with Hertfordshire to have 2,405 police officers, 12 more than the previous target.

In addition, despite challenges from government funding, Mr Ash Edwards's budget will also ensure no reduction of neighbourhood PCSOs and lay the foundations for increases in neighbourhood policing.

Over half (56%) of police funding in Hertfordshire comes from Government grant with the remainder (44%) coming from the policing precept from the council tax. 

The budget for policing Hertfordshire in 2025-26 has been set at £313m an increase from 294.2m the previous year. This includes a £14 a year (5.6 per cent) rise in the policing precept, the part of the Council Tax that goes towards policing, for a Band D property which will raise an additional £7.38m.

A Band D property will now pay a total of £265 towards policing in 2025-26, which is the fifth lowest level in England and Wales.

Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mr Ash-Edwards said:

"I welcome the unanimous, cross-party support from the Police & Crime Panel for my proposed budget and police precept for the coming financial year. 

"The focus of Hertfordshire Constabulary is to reduce crime, catch criminals and keep people safe. This budget will help that work, by increasing police officer numbers to a new record high and protecting the number of neighbourhood PCSOs.

"The public have told me that this, and visible and responsive policing, is their priority and 63% of residents who responded to my precept consultation backed the £14 Band D increase in the police precept.

"I will continue to work with the Chief Constable to ensure the public's money is used wisely and helps deliver on the priorities I am setting out in my imminent Police & Crime Plan."

A report presented to the panel on his public consultation showed 63 per cent of residents said they wanted to pay more to support policing in the county, with 26 per cent disagreeing with the proposal and 11 per cent neutral.

The Police and Crime Panel is a body made up of councillors from across Hertfordshire who scrutinise the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner.