Sussex Police want 50p a week from every household in the county to meet a shortfall in government grants.

The council tax increase, the second big rise in successive years, would cost taxpayers an average of £26 per year.

Some Sussex Police Authority (SPA) members winced last year when they approved an 18 per cent rise in the amount they ask from the public - and this is double that amount.

Chief Constable Ken Jones is backing the move, insisting it is essential if the force's crime-fighting is to improve.

He said the increase, which would boost its £190 million budget by £20 million, would mean the force could hire another 50 staff to improve investigations.

SPA members will consider two other options before making their decision early next year.

Both call for smaller increases but the chief said neither would give him the funds to make improvements.

The proposed hike is needed to fill the hole caused by the Government switching money to Metropolitan and northern constabularies.

Progressive local tax increases will be needed to redress the shortfall until at least 2006.

Mr Jones said this year's grant settlement would have a damaging effect on the force and things were likely to get worse.

The crisis has been condemned by SPA chairman Councillor David Rogers, who has lobbied Sussex MPs to fight for a policy U-turn by the Government.

He said: "We are faced with very difficult choices and possibly a big rise in the police element of the council tax."

The settlement was insufficient to meet the costs of current service standards, never mind the improvements to policing.

If reductions were phased in, they would have a devastating impact on the level of service provided. A very large increase in council tax was needed simply to replace lost central funding.

He said: "Sussex Police have made great strides to improve performance and public satisfaction and to provide the service people want."

Geoffrey Theobald, Brighton and Hove city councillor and SPA member, said: "This is scandalous.

"The Government is switching money to other areas where Labour's support is strongest."