Essex Police wants a hike in council tax in order to put more than 40 new officers on the beat across the county.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst, has proposed a 3.35 per cent increase in the force’s council tax precept, the equivalent of £4.95 per year for a Band D property.

The additional money would be used to fund new resources, including 41 new front line officers, more staff in its central control room and additional firearms officers.

The tax increase, which would raise around £3.1 million, would also help pay for the first phase of a scheme to double the number of PSCOs working in Essex to 700 by 2019.

Mr Hirst said: "As I have gone out and met people from across our county I have consistently heard that people want more local, visible and accessible policing.

“This proposal delivers a range of tangible investments that will help meet these expectations and make it absolutely clear what the people of Essex will be getting for their money.

“Essex also has one of the lowest council tax precepts for policing in the country and central government funding for policing remains constrained.

“My proposal to increase the Police proportion of council tax by £4.95 for a band D property, which is less than 10p per week, will help us respond to the changing nature of crime and provide more local, visible and accessible policing.”

The proposed increase in council tax comes after the force made huge cutbacks last year in a bid to save cash.

Epping police station and the front desk in Loughton were controversially closed in April 2016.

In 2011, front desks were closed at stations Waltham Abbey and Epping as part of a £41 million round of cuts.

The Police and Crime Commissioner proposed budget for the 2017/18 financial year is £268.9m funded approximately two thirds by government grant and one third council tax.

A taxpayer in a Band D property currently contributes £152.10 each year to the police force. If plans were approved, this would rise to £157.05.

The Provisional Police Grant Settlement from the Home Office for 2017/18 will provide Essex Police with £169.6 million of funding.