THE Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside, Matthew Grove, will propose raising the amount of council tax used to pay for policing next week.

The precept was frozen last year, but Mr Grove will recommend an increase of 1.99 per cent for 2014/2015, to about £176.57 a year for a Band D property – a raise of about £3.45.

Mr Grove said: “Despite the financial challenges we currently face, the Chief Constable and I are committed to making the area as safe as possible for our residents, and reducing the number of victims of crime.

“The force has already made savings of more than £28 million since 2010 through robust budget management, but continued reduction in government funding means we need to find over £30m more between now and 2019. It is no good saying this cannot be done and I accept that policing must make its contribution to restoring public finances.”