COMPLACENCY and poor forward planning have been blamed for Essex Police's current financial situation.

Police and crime commissioner Nick Alston has accused his predecessors of leaving the force without financial reserves to fall back on.

The Tory is also unhappy that Essex taxpayers' contribution to the police is among the lowest in the country.

Residents living in band D properties currently pay around £147 per year to the police through their council tax bill, compared to a national average of £180.

Mr Alston said: “In Surrey they pay £210. Two thirds of our funding comes from Government, and one third from council tax.”

By law, Mr Alston must call a referendum if he wants to raise council tax by more than two per cent year-on-year.

This is something he is reluctant to do due to the cost of holding a public vote, and his belief that residents will not support a tax increase.

He added: “I have put it up for the last three years because I believe we pay too little for our police.

“We are a big and complicated county, and it is wrong we pay so little.

“I wasn’t there at the time, so I can’t explain why the precept was previously kept down at the level it was.”

The commissioner has also criticised former police bosses for failing to sell off unused buildings, and a lack of technological advancement.

He believes Essex Police should also have set up a mobile phone app to allow residents to report crime.

Mr Alston said: “Over the last ten years, crime has gone down, but lots of money was going into policing.

“I have questions about sustainable investment in technology and the police estate.

“These were conscious decisions made by the old police authority and it is a missed opportunity.”

The amount of PCSOs in Essex will reduce from 250 to 60 by 2020 as a result of force cutbacks.

Mr Alston told Wednesday's public meeting that 12 out of 16 PCSOs in Castle Point and Rochford will be lost.

A new merged neighbourhood policing team will be formed in the districts, with one inspector, two sergeants, six constables, four PCSOs, and a youth officer.