Martins calls for 16% council tax rise to pay for more police officers

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire is proposing a council tax rise of almost 16% to pay for more police officers in the county.

Olly Martins is consulting the public on the 15.85% increase. A referendum would be required to secure a rise of this scale. It would be held alongside the General Election on 7 May.

Mr Martins says the increase would pay for 100 additional officers until at least 2021, with a focus on more visible policing in the community, managing prolific offenders and protecting vulnerable people.

Click below to watch Olivia Paterson's interview with Olly Martins: