The Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott has proposed an average £2 monthly rise in council tax to help fund another 180 officers across Kent. 

The plan, which will raise up to £16.6 million, will now need to be approved at a Kent Police and Crime Panel meeting next month. 

In addition to the extra 180 officers, Scott claims that more has to be done to cover rising costs of pay and national insurance, pensions, vehicle insurance, and general inflation. 

He said in a statement: “In the last three years, I have worked hard to provide Kent Police with the resources they need to fight crime, catch criminals and be visible in our towns and villages. 

“We are all so grateful for the hard work of Kent Police officers, staff and volunteers. They do difficult and dangerous things to keep us safe, day in, day out. 

“But with the extra demand they face, we simply need more of them. 

“This is not about just replacing those who leave, but increasing officer numbers further to continue the biggest recruitment drive in Kent Police’s history. 

“I don’t take decisions to increase council tax lightly. I always make sure the money is well spent and Kent Police will have to make £10m of efficiency savings next year too. 

 “More officers will enable Kent Police to catch even more criminals, target gangs and violence, boost visible policing and help more victims.”