CHESHIRE'S Police and Crime Commissioner says he has set a budget to meet the demands for more officers on the beat.

The force plans on recruiting 120 extra officers, alongside 63 more front line staff in areas including the police call centre.

There will also be schemes to tackle anti-social behaviour and road safety initiatives as part of the budget, which PCC John Dwyer says has taken heed of the feedback he received from the county's residents.

The commissioner embarked on a survey last autumn - "the largest consultation exercise ever carried out by Cheshire's Police and Crime Commissioner" - to gauge public opinion.

However, there will be a cost to council tax payers for the extra resources on the beat and now the Commissioner is asking people if they are prepared to pay around 83p per month extra via the police precept (average band D household) to fund the package.

Mr Dwyer said: "I believe this budget represents what residents of Cheshire have told me they want. More officers, better call response times, and an increased focus on tackling ASB and making our roads safer.

"This budget will build on the work done since I took office last May, where nearly £4 million in extra funding has been brought in to prevent and tackle crime in our county.

"In that time the Chief Constable and I have also been able to commit to taking our officer numbers to the highest level in modern times at 2,345."

The PCC added: "We are benefiting from increased funding from central government and the national Police Officer Uplift programme.

"However, in my autumn survey I was up front with people and I said a small precept rise would be necessary in order to keep the police at a standstill.

"Over 85 per cent of people who expressed a view said they were happy to pay more above this in order for the constabulary to have more resources."

The police commissioner says residents will pay less than £1.04 a month on their council tax bills.

"I am extremely conscious of the cost of living, and the fact that residents gave a diverse range of views. I am also aware that asking for support to raise the precept even further would require me to hold a referendum, which I do not believe would be a valuable use of people's hard-earned money," he added.

The commissioner will be holding a series of consultation events around the county throughout January.

Four online events will also be held for residents of each of Cheshire's four boroughs with Cheshire East's on Monday, January 10 (7 – 8:30pm).

To register for your local online event, send your name, question and postcode to [email protected] by 11:59pm the day before the event.

To take the Commissioner's survey online, go to www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/yourpolicebudget2022-23