Warning on police budget issued

The Sussex police chief said the force was "determined to do more"

Warnings that Sussex police authority members face difficult budget decisions this week have been made.

Three options being put to members on Thursday require council tax rises of 4.98%, 5.99% and 7.39%.

Kent and Surrey have already set their 2007/08 budgets leading to council tax rises of 4.99% and 4.9% respectively.

Sussex authority chairman Peter Jones said: "We may have to accept the need to pay more to keep our officers on the beat." The authority meets on Thursday.

Sussex chief constable Joe Edwards said: "We are determined to do even more to tackle serious and organised crime."

He said there were "identified organised crime groups" operating in the county and the force planned to tackle them "more robustly".

Murder centre

Kent Police said its tax increase would help the force invest in neighbourhood policing and give resources for tackling major and serious crime.

Money will also be used to refurbish the former police station at Chatham for use as a "dedicated countywide murder inquiry centre".

And it will provide a police boat based at Sheerness to patrol the coastline.

Surrey's budget covered investment in neighbourhood policing, better customer accessibility, investment in services to counter terrorism and organised crime, an increase in patrols, and improved custody standards.

In a statement the force said: "Since 1999/2000 Surrey Police has generated efficiency savings amounting to £40.5m.

"The majority of these have been made as a result of improved IT and communications systems, savings in procurement and overtime."

It said money saved was being re-invested in other areas.