The Government today tried to put a positive spin on the police grant handed to Sussex for next year.

This year's grant increase is millions of pounds short of what the force needs just to standstill.

But a Home Office press release said: "Substantially increased investment in policing in Sussex will help forces implement police reform and deliver an effective and efficient police service, properly equipped to tackle crime in the 21st Century.

"The Government will invest a total of £153.1 million in Sussex Police Authority this year to deliver more police officers, develop specialist expertise and make the most of modern technology."

Councillor David Rogers, chairman of the Sussex Police Authority, said the increase amounted to an extra £4.5 million when the force needed £21 million to keep existing services going.

That was why the authority was looking to fill the gap by increasing its demand on local taxpayers, probably by an average of 54p a week more.

The Home Office increase to Sussex, of just three per cent, is the lowest in the country and has been attacked by local politicians and senior police, including Chief Constable Ken Jones.

The Home Office has been accused of focusing resources in metropolitan and northern areas to the detriment of counties, including Sussex.

Police minister John Denham today confirmed the three per cent increase would stand but softened the blow by announcing the force would receive an extra £9.6 million in special grants, giving a final sum of £162.7 million.

This cash would come from funding pots to recruit new officers, introduce the new "airwave" radio system, fight rural crime and implement the police reform package.

Mr Denham said: "We expect a return for our significant investment in policing. We are determined to improve performance and raise standards of all forces to those of the best.

"In the first national policing plan, we have provided a framework for developing local policing plans that deliver shared objectives to a consistently high standard."

Under the plan, Sussex has made street crime, burglary, drugs, loutish behaviour and car crime their top priorities.

Ministers have insisted each priority listed in the plan must be reflected in the forces three-year local plan.