Hertfordshire is on course for its biggest ever police force - but residents will have to stump up extra cash to pay for it.

The county currently has 2,100 police officers but police and crime commissioner David Lloyd wants to boost this to more than 2,300 - higher than the record 2,202 Hertfordshire had in 2007.

Government funding will pay for 90 new police officers by 2022, but Mr Lloyd says a council tax rise will be needed to help fund an initial further 77 officers.

When Hertfordshire residents pay their council tax bill, 77 per cent of it goes to the county council, ten per cent to their district or borough council, two per cent to the town and parish councils, while 11 per cent goes to the police and crime commissioner to spend on policing and crime prevention.

Mr Lloyd has proposed increasing the policing precept he receives in his role as commissioner by £15 a year for the average Band D property.

This would generate an additional £6.7 million, increasing the precept for a Band D Hertfordshire resident from £198 to £213, which would still be among the lowest in the country.

The commissioner’s budget proposal would increase the total number in the ranks to 2,267 in the next financial year, with a total of 167 new officers joining - Mr Lloyd plans to have 2,314 officers in post by April 2023.

Explaining the reasoning behind his proposal, Mr Lloyd said: "As your police and crime commissioner, setting the budget is one of my most important responsibilities.

"I must ensure that the Chief Constable has the resources to provide an effective service, whilst ensuring that I use tax payers’ money efficiently.

"I recognise that times are difficult for many people, especially those whose jobs have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, this pandemic has also shown how incredibly important policing is to protect and reassure our communities.

"With this in mind, we are making an unprecedented investment in policing.

"This budget will boost officer levels in Hertfordshire to record levels never seen in Hertfordshire before. The majority of these officers will be stationed in local neighbourhoods, providing a more visible police presence on the street."

Mr Lloyd says the council tax rise will also help Hertfordshire Constabulary cope with the costs of investigating cybercrime, child exploitation and other emerging crime types.

The commissioner's proposal is currently out for public consultation - visit www.hertscommissioner.org/public-consultation.

Comment can be made by emailing your.views@herts.pcc.pnn.gov.uk or by completing this short survey bit.ly/Hertsprecept21.