Council tax will increase by £2 a month for the average household – but the extra money will bring in dozens of new police officers.

The public said they would agree to the rise if it promised an increase in police numbers and Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd’s proposal has been backed unanimously by the police and crime panel.

Under the proposal, a £2m a month rise in council tax was suggested. This is separate from county and borough council tax.

The government gave Police and Crime Commissioners across the UK the flexibility to raise the precept by £24 a year on the average (Band D) household.

The public were consulted on Mr Lloyd’s plans back in December.

More than £10.7m will be raised under the new tax proposals for policing in Hertfordshire in 2019/20. It will help fund 75 frontline police officers across the county.

The extra cash will also help protect neighbourhood policing teams and investment in services for victims.

Mr Lloyd outlined challenges of reported fraud, cybercrime, and threats of serious violence, in his open letter in December.

The police and crime commissioner said: “The public will see an increase in the number of officers on the street. These new officers will bring the total of front line officers in Hertfordshire to over 2,000.

“The public have overwhelmingly told me they are prepared to pay more, but only if they get an increase in police numbers. This is what this budget delivers.

“We hear horror stories from other regions in the UK where residents say ‘the police are not interested in investigating my burglary’. I never want to hear anyone in Hertfordshire say this. We are committed to investigating 100 per cent of all burglaries.

“As a result of good financial management we have not seen the cuts in police officer numbers in Hertfordshire which other areas have suffered. But pressure on the police is growing and this increase gives us the opportunity to invest in more new officers to meet that demand.

“This rise in Council Tax is vital to fulfil my Community Safety and Criminal Justice Plan which is committed to putting victims first and supporting them through the criminal justice system.”