THE POLICE force will end up responding to less unless residents are asked to pay more, the force’s staff association has warned.

Inspector Matt Webb, chair of the Sussex Police Federation, said he welcomed the 1.98 % rise in the police precept councillors voted for yesterday but it did not go far enough.

He reiterated the Federation’s calls for the police and crime commissioner to hold a referendum on a £25 annual rise, to help plug the £53 million in savings the force needs to make by 2020 due to Government cuts.

Inspector Webb said: “You can only do one thing with less, and that is less.

“With less money we will be able to perform fewer duties. We are in negotiations at the moment as to exactly what they are.

“Further cuts to frontline resources are going to mean that we are going to have to deal with things in a different way.

“I am not convinced that in the future we will be able to fully investigate all of the crimes that we currently do. We will have to make a decision based on priorities.”

The rise approved by the Police and Crime Panel yesterday means Band D households will be paying an extra £2.79 per year for policing, bringing their total bill to £143.91.

Much of the £800,000-a-year raised is due to be focused on tackling cyber crime and child sex offending.

It means police can fully implement plans slowed down when the Government said last year any precept rise above two per cent would require a referendum.

PCC Katy Bourne told the police and crime panel yesterday she was “not prepared” to hold a referendum on a higher amount, as it would be too expensive for the taxpayer. Before Christmas she said the force is “not just looking at how we can shrink and cut - we are actually looking at how we deliver services”.

Panel member and Lewes District councillor Andy Smith suggested the Government should consider raising the threshold at which authorities must hold a referendum if they want to increase taxes, on a case-by-case basis.

For example, he added, “authorities such as Sussex Police that have demonstrated they are of good value.”

Inspector Webb said: “We would urge for a referendum at the same time as the general election in order to reduce the costs.”