POLICE bosses are asking residents whether they would be willing to pay more council tax to increase the levels of policing.

Police, fire and crime commissioner for Essex Roger Hirst has launched a survey to gauge the public's view on whether or not they would be happy to shell out extra for more resources.

Essex Police's funding comes from central Government, and local council tax.

The Essex force receives the lowest funding per resident of any police force in the country and has the sixth lowest council tax for policing.

Mr Hirst said:  “I want to provide the best service possible for the people of Essex and increasing investment will help me deliver this.

"I’m not expecting any increase in central Government funding for this year but I can raise the police precept.

"However, before I make that decision I want to know what the views of the public are so I can take them into account."

He added: “At every public meeting I attend I hear that the residents want more police on the streets and whilst both Essex Police and I are doing everything we can to make that happen, we don’t have the money or resources to deliver it in the best way that we want to.

"The demand on the police service is rising.

"New crime types are emerging and existing crime is rising in its complexity, this is against a backdrop of an unprecedented shift in the national security environment.

"My question to the public is this - do they want to pay more for those extra resources?”

The survey will go live on Monday at surveys.essexinsight.org.uk/policeprecept.