Crime commissioner Donna Jones is set to hike council tax by another £14 per household under newly-unveiled plans backed by Hampshire's chief constable.

Ms Jones wants to see a rise in the police precept of more than five per cent, in line with Government expectations, bringing in £15m extra for Hampshire Constabulary.

Last year saw a smaller increase of £10 for a band D property due to pressures on living costs.

It comes as Hampshire County Council leader Nick Adams-King is set to increase council tax by 15 per cent.

Extra cash will be spent on 50 more police officers, new front counters, improvements to 101, and tackling anti-social behaviour.

Chief constable Scott Chilton has backed the increase, saying local funding has been key to a reduction in 17,000 crime reports and faster responses to the most serious incidents.

It comes as a report outlined how Hampshire police will need to find £7.5m savings next year, rising to £12.6m and £19m in following years - partly due to the increase in pay of 725 officers recruited over recent years as they become more senior.

In a statement outlining recent successes linked to investment, Mr Chilton said: "More burglars, more rapists and sexual offenders (are) off our streets and facing justice.

"Shoplifters are being targeted in a way that simply was not being done before."

Mr Chilton's report also admitted that problems which have plagued the force's system for members of the public to get in touch has gone from "one of the worst to best in class".

But he said that without the extra £14 rise in the police precept his team "cannot deliver the kind of progress that we need to deliver".

Around 50 extra officers will be funded with the cash, along with other "high priority" measures, he said. The money will also go toward increased costs in pension contributions, National Insurance, rent and fuel.

He added: "There is a very powerful case for the £14 maximum increase in council tax precept at a time when all communities need effective policing more than ever.

"We only have to cast our minds back to the summer and the disorder to see how important it is for us to have the policing capability to respond robustly."

Around £1m will go towards upgrading computers to Windows 11, and more than £300,000 will be spent on non-compliance with FOI, data protection and other matters.

The police precept and budget will be discussed at Hampshire's Police and Crime Panel meeting next Friday.