A TAX hike will add millions of pounds to the coffers of the police after it was approved by panel members.

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne pushed for the maximum increase in funds for the police taken from council tax.

For an average Band D property, residents will have to pay an extra £24 a year, with the money to fund 100 more PCSOs, 50 more officers, and 50 new investigators.

It is more than double last year’s increase, which enabled the force to announce plans to recruit 200 extra officers.

Last week former Brighton police commander Kevin Moore challenged Mrs Bourne to publish the findings of her surveys to justify the tax rise.

In a letter to The Argus he also said the PCC should be pushing central Government to allocate more funding to policing rather than putting up people’s taxes.

But on Friday Mrs Bourne said she had received 2,694 survey responses and held focus groups in 12 towns and locations across the county, including Hove, Crawley, and Eastbourne. She said 61 per cent of responders said they were prepared to pay more for policing, while 39 per cent said they were not.

The rise in the precept will see taxes rise from £165.91 to £189.91 for an average Band D property. It will add a further £16 million to Sussex Police budgets, to allow the force to hire the investigators and PCSOs. It follows last year’s increase of £12 on an average Band D property.

Between 2018 and 2022, Sussex Police must recruit a total of 800 officers and staff to replace retiring officers and fill vacancies.

It is the largest recruitment at Sussex Police for decades, officers said.

Mrs Bourne said: “This is not a decision that I take lightly. It is always very difficult asking people to pay more. The main assurance that I can give to the public is that we are raising money locally and it will make a difference locally.

“The tax that the public pays to the police in Sussex is one of the lowest in the country. In neighbouring council areas residents pay more.”

Sussex Police and Crime Panel members voted unanimously to back her plans at a meeting yesterday.

Following the meeting she said: “I am pleased that the panel has recognised that I have listened intently to what Sussex residents want and what the chief constable needs.

“With their support, we are now able to take this unique opportunity to recruit even more officers and invest in an all round better service.”

Sussex Police Chief Constable Giles York said: “We made a strong case to the PCC for further investment balancing the need to put more officers and PCSOs on the streets with ensuring we have the capabilities to deal with those crimes that cause the most harm in our communities.

“Over the next four years, people will see more visible policing. This will help us meet growing and changing demand.”