POLICE TAX UP BY SIX PER CENT
Sussex Police Authority members agreed the rise, providing a total budget of 237.15 million, after hearing that it was needed to maintain the advances made in neighbourhood policing and in the Force's performance figures.
In addition, it will provide a significant contribution towards the investment required by Government in protective services, which include counter terrorism, major and organised crime, roads policing, air support and forensic investigation.
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Hide AdAuthority chairman, Peter Jones said: 'This was not a decision taken lightly.
'We have a very difficult period in front of us. Government funding will be cut to below the rate of inflation from next year until 2010, but still it demands that we spend more money improving our protective services.
'Ten years ago, barely 20% of the bill for policing Sussex came from council tax. This year the figure is 32% and all the indications are that it will continue to rise.'