WEST Yorkshire Police is expected to sign up 300 new officers over the next 12 months in its first recruitment drive for five years.

The go ahead was given today for a 3.6 per cent increase in the police council tax, allowing the West Yorkshire force to press ahead with a recruitment campaign.

The budget proposal, submitted by West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson, was approved by the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel.

Mr Burns-Williamson said: "Continuing the recruitment of police officers, and protecting Police Community Support Officers, is crucial.

"We know our communities want to see more officers and staff visible on the streets, protecting the most vulnerable, and dealing with emergency and serious incidents."

But West Yorkshire Police Federation said the extra officers would just plug the gaps, following deep cuts.

Mr Burns-Williamson said around 300 police officers could be recruited over the next year, while Special Constables and PCSOs would continue to have the opportunity to become full-time officers.

The police council tax increase will cost each taxpayer, on average, less than eight pence a week, or £4 a year.

He said the police council tax increase would ensure PCSO numbers, currently 565, would be protected. Other money for recruitment will be funded through ongoing efficiencies.

Mr Burns-Williamson said West Yorkshire was an area with some of the greatest policing and community safety needs, but the Government continued to allocate money unfairly.

He added: "I will continue to fight for a fairer deal for West Yorkshire, but given the reductions in Government funding, the only means of allowing for police officer, PCSO, and staff recruitment is to increase the police council tax to help pay for them.

“It is reassuring that the majority of the public surveyed, and the Panel, agree with this approach and the additional investment proposed, recognising the need to start the job of rebuilding and protecting policing resources in West Yorkshire, which in recent years just hasn't been possible.”

West Yorkshire Temporary Chief Constable Dee Collins said: “The Police and Crime Commissioner’s commitment to the recruitment of additional officers and the protection of Police Community Support Officers is extremely welcome news.

“It supports the work that the Force has already achieved through its Programme of Change and the significant savings which we have made since the cuts to policing budgets began in 2010.”

West Yorkshire Police Federation chairman Nick Smart also welcomed the news, but said it had to be seen in context.

"It is not an increase. It is maintaining the status quo," he said. "It is a positive move, but we are still losing officers so all this will do is keep pace with losses, at best.

"Hopefully, if recruitment continues, we will be able to actually increase officers in the next three or four years, but at the moment we are just plugging the gaps. We are still 1,250 officers down from 2009, so the public won't notice a difference on the streets."