COUNCIL taxpayers in Wyre Forest will have to fork out an average £15 extra per year to cover a dramatic rise in the West Mercia Police Authority's budget for the year ahead.
The force is putting up its budget to £154 million for the year 2003-4 - equivalent to an annual contribution of £119.80 for a typical Band D taxpayer.
The extra money will help boost the number of bobbies on the beat and improve services to local communities, said the authority.
Key aims for the force for the year ahead include improving its handling of calls from the public, getting criminals before courts more quickly and reinforcing crime detection teams.
The force is also appointing its own counter-terrorist security adviser.
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