TAXPAYERS have hit out at being asked to pay more for policing from April.

Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston is hoping to increase the council tax precept for policing in Essex by 3.5 per cent.

This would cost the average band D Essex taxpayer £5 extra a year.

The extra money would be the equivalent of what is needed for 57 extra police officers. Standard readers took to Facebook to express their doubts over the proposed scheme.

Della Page, of Harwich, said: “We only have three policemen in Harwich covering a 75 mile radius. I don’t see how an increase is justified for that.”