A top police official has expressed his “concern” over the funding levels received by Surrey Police in recent years.

Peter Williams, chairman of the Surrey Police Authority, spoke out after the force were awarded a “good” rating in the latest HMIC (Her Majesty’s Inspectorate Constabulary) assessments.

Surrey was one of only four forces to receive the grading in all three overall categories of local crime and policing, protection from serious harm and confidence and satisfaction.

But Mr Williams highlighted the shortfall in funding which stretched back more than a decade.

He said: "We remain extremely concerned about our level of Government funding, and the impact this has on our tax-payers, but we are resolutely determined to protect the excellent service provided to the public by Surrey Police.

“In 1996, Surrey Police received £96 per head of population in government police grant for Surrey, in 2009 we received £93 per person. The average across all forces was £150.

“Our share of council tax is the only way we can make up for this shortfall, which has resulted in Surrey taxpayers providing nearly half of our funding, against a national average of around 25 per cent.

“With up to 200 additional constables joining Surrey Police over the next three years period, we expect to see significant improvements in service.”

The HMIC report acknowledged that despite a population density of twice the national average, Surrey still maintains “low levels of burglary, robbery, car crime, violence with injury and criminal damage and equally low levels of more serious crime, such as knife offences.”