A new starting salary for police officers in the county has been announced.
New PCs with experience, including working as PCSOs or special constables, will join Essex Police on a salary of £22,000, while others will start on £21,000 a year.
The changes are due to come into effect on April 1.
Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh said: "The Home Secretary previously set out new regulations for the starting pay of police constables which came into effect on 1 April 2013.
"While acknowledging the difficult financial situation, that both the force and the country face, I have made a decision to have a starting salary towards the upper end of this scale.
"This is within my discretion and I believe it is important to send a strong message to new recruits on how much I value having committed, competent and enthusiastic individuals joining the force."
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