Plans to recruit 70 more officers this year to Avon and Somerset Police have been thrown into doubt after councillors vetoed a £15 council tax increase.
Police and crime panel members said the force could not justify growth when residents are facing “heartbreaking” financial strain from the Covid-19 pandemic and councils are making cuts.
Chief constable Andy Marsh wanted the extra cash for officers to tackle the “tsunami” of sexual offences that followed “savage” cuts in the austerity years, as well as better management of offenders and more proactive policing.
He previously promised that residents would see a difference from the £15 hike and warned that the force risked “losing momentum” without it.