Norfolk householders will pay about £3 a year more for policing, it was confirmed today.Norfolk Police Authority approved a 7pc hike in its council tax levy, taking the policing bill for a Band D home from £161.

Norfolk householders will pay about £3 a year more for policing, it was confirmed today.

Norfolk Police Authority approved a 7pc hike in its council tax levy, taking the policing bill for a Band D home from £161.82 last year to £164.88 in 2007-08.

Members had hoped to keep the figure below 5pc but a disappointing government funding settlement meant extra funds were needed to recruit more police community support officers . The authority has been told that such a large rise is likely to break the government's capping level - which means ministers could enforce financial penalties.

Authority chairman Stephen Bett said its safer neighbourhood policing plans were based on government funding pledges. He said: “The government has since backtracked on those promises but we have to carry on with the introduction of this scheme.”

Norfolk County Council is to increase council tax by 4.75pc, which will see Band D bills rise £47.70 a year to £1,052.