Essex’s police, fire and crime panel has approved an average £12 increase in council tax - which looks to provide 150 more frontline officers in the county.

The increase, proposed by Essex police and crime commissioner Roger Hirst, is a 7.62 per cent rise in the police element of the council tax.

Mr Hirst said he was delighted his proposal has been accepted.

He said: “Essex Police has had the lowest funding per resident of any force in the country.

“I can now increase the police element of council tax by £12 for a band D property, which is just £1 per month, to help us respond to the changing nature of crime and provide more local, visible and accessible policing.”

The rise means the force will be able to bring the total number of officers to at least 3,000 by the end of 2018/19.

Essex Police has also identified a further £3.5million in potential savings which will be reinvested back into the force.