Dorset has warned householders in band D properties that they will see their council tax bills rise by £10. David Sidwick, the county’s Conservative police and crime commissioner, said that the cash from the Government would barely cover the cost of the police officer uplift.

“It will not cover unavoidable cost increases such as inflationary pressures, which are particularly high at the moment, and the costs that enable the recruitment of those new officers such as training, equipment, vehicles and changes to the buildings that those officers will use,” he said.

“Such costs will have to be met primarily from local council tax because, if they are not, reductions in service will be required, which will significantly reduce the impact of the incoming officers within our communities.”

Impact of Budget measures

Michael Gove, the Communities Secretary, is allowing police authorities to increase their share of council tax bills by up to £10, and some fire brigades by £5, although they have to consult their communities on their proposals.

It comes on top of the disclosure that millions face council tax rises of up to six per cent next year because of smallprint which has only just come to light.

Rishi Sunak announced in his Budget that town halls will be able to put up the levy by three per cent in April, partly to pay for social care.

However, it has now emerged that if local authorities did not use their full ability to increase council tax this year, they will be able to carry this entitlement over to next year.

It means that some town halls, believed to be about 36, will be able to add up to three per cent on top of the three per cent announced by the Chancellor. 

Combined with the police increases, it could result in average band D council tax bills soaring by more than £100 in a year, and many areas could breach £2,000 for the first time.

Kit Malthouse, the Policing Minister, defended a £1.1 billion increase in police funding. He said: “We are putting thousands more officers on the beat and funding for policing will rise by up to £1.1 billion compared to last year’s settlement, bringing the total up to £16.9 billion, to continue their vital work protecting victims and targeting criminals.

“The public rightly expects to feel safe in their homes and their communities, which is why we allow independent police and crime commissioners to make full use of their flexibility to increase the police precept as needed, in addition to the cash provided by the Government, to address local policing priorities.”