Taxpayers could have to fork out £1 extra a month to help pay for policing.

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Hertfordshire has proposed the changes in the hope it could raise more than £5 million.

The increase of £1 on the average household’s council tax rate will “help invest in investigations and additional officers”, commissioner David Lloyd has said.

Following an announcement about freedom to raise council tax by the Home Office this week, David Lloyd will be able to raise an extra £5.3 million for policing in the county in 2018/19.

This will be spent on protecting neighbourhood policing teams, and investing in additional officers to help tackle burglary, anti-social behaviour and drug-related crime.

Operation Scorpion is the forces initiative to “relentlessly” pursue criminals across Hertfordshire. Additional funding will also beplaced into the Force Control Room.

Hertfordshire police say they have seen a 10 per cent increase in the number of 999 calls received, largely due to the increased threat of terror attacks.

Earlier this week, Home Secretary Amber Rudd, announced the new council tax rises would raise £270 million nationally, while a further £130 million from central government will be put aside for national priorities.

Mr Lloyd said: “This settlement is welcome and helps to secure funding for Hertfordshire in a year which has seen a significant rise in demand on our officers.

“The rise in demand impacts on how we spend our money. In order to protect our neighbourhood policing model and strengthen the teams tackling burglary and other serious crimes, it will be necessary to raise additional funding from local people.

“Keeping council tax low has been one of my overriding ambitions as PCC and my commitment has been that I won’t ask you to pay any more for policing than is absolutely necessary.

“I’ve always maintained I will not make the public pay a penny more for policing than they have to, and despite this increase Hertfordshire residents will still pay one of the lowest contributions for policing in the country.”

You can have your say by emailing your.views@herts.pcc.pnn.gov.uk