Council taxpayers could face a hike of more than 40 per cent in police charges to compensate Surrey's force for the lowest government grant in England.

Surrey Police Authority (SPA) has not ruled out an increase of that magnitude in the police precept, after changes in the way grants were calculated left the county with a government funding increase of less than one per cent.

The news came after comments from Surrey's top cop calling into question his ability to sustain a "satisfactory level of service", given government grant levels.

Epsom's MP Chris Grayling and other Surrey MPs will be presenting a petition to Parliament next month demanding an increase in government cash to stop the police service sinking further into financial crisis.

Surrey will be given £81 per head of population to spend on police services, the next lowest allocation being Dorest's £89.

But with the SPA already having agreed a hefty rise in costs after approving a package to attract new recruits and retain experienced officers, and with similar measures expected for civilian staff, taxpayers will be left picking up the tab.

Mr Grayling said: "People who have the most difficulty paying the bill are the retired people on fixed incomes or young teachers trying to afford their first house in the area.

"It is simply not good enough because we are not getting a proper policing service locally.

"Even with this type of increase Surrey is not able to meet all the demands being made of it.

"We continue to lose officers at an alarming rate to the Metropolitan Police."

The precept will be announced after the SPA's meeting on February 13, but a spokesman said it could be more than 40 per cent.

After the government grant announcement, Surrey's Chief Constable Denis O'Connor said: "These cuts undermine our ability to provide for the people of Surrey.

"Over the coming months we will have to make some hard decisions about policing in the county, and consider whether even a satisfactory level of service is actually sustainable for Surrey."

January 29, 2003 11:30