Kent Police Authority vote for council tax increase

Ann Barnes said the authority was working in a "very tight financial climate".

The body responsible for overseeing policing in Kent is to increase its share of the council tax by almost 3%.

It will mean a rise of £4 a year for the average band D taxpayer, bringing the total of the force's share of the tax to £138.

Kent Police Authority said it was the lowest rise in ten years.

Ann Barnes, who chairs the authority, said: "No one likes putting up taxes but we're working within a very tight financial climate."

The authority approved its £285m budget for the year ahead at a meeting on Tuesday.