People are set to pay an extra £1 per month on their council tax in order to help fund more police officers in Hertfordshire.

Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd says the money will be used to protect neighbourhood policing teams by investing in extra officers from the Operation Scorpion units to help tackle burglary, anti-social behaviour and drug-related crime.

The decision was unanimously approved by Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Panel, which is made up of a group of local councillors and independent members of the public whose job it is to scrutinise and support the work of the PCC.

Mr Lloyd said: “I’m pleased the panel has approved this budget as it provides long-term security to our local policing teams as well as investing to meet the increased demands on the force.

“The increase will provide more officers on the streets, more staff answering your calls, more staff for investigations, more investment in community safety, criminal justice and police innovations and at the same time allowing more savings and efficiency to take place.”

Additional funding will also be placed into the Force Control Room, where 999 and 101 calls have “risen dramatically” since the terrorist attacks in Manchester and London.

Increased support for victims will be provided through the expansion of the Constabulary’s victim services team and an enhanced Beacon Victim Care Centre, delivering greater and specialised support to victims.

Households will start to see the increase in April’s council tax bills.

The average increase on a weekly bill will be 23p.