Rupert Matthews, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland’s Police and Crime Commissioner, has launched a survey asking local residents for their views on the funding they pay towards policing and community safety.
The Commissioner recently unveiled his Police and Crime Plan 2024-29 which focusses on the key concerns of residents across the force area. Now he is working to set a budget that will provide the Chief Constable with the appropriate resources to deliver on priority areas including neighbourhood policing, crime prevention and services for victims of crime.
As part of that process, he is asking people for their views on the amount of council tax they pay towards policing, victim support, crime prevention and community safety, known as the ‘Policing Precept’.
He said today: “Over half the funding for policing Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland comes from local taxpayers. Thanks to their ongoing support we have been able to invest in key areas to retain Leicestershire’s position as a top performing force.
“Following the previous Government’s Uplift programme we gained 332 more officers. In addition, improvements have been made to contact management and a dedicated crime prevention directorate has been introduced. All of this progress is now at risk following the Government’s announcement this week on police funding.
“I want to protect the progress that has been made since 2021 and without an increase in the policing precept, that will be impossible.
“Thanks to inflation, cost increases, an unfair funding formula and the fact that the Government is now only picking up part of the increase in employers’ national insurance contributions, without an increase in the amount of funding from local people there will inevitably be reductions in service. It will also affect our ability to invest to produce efficiencies in the future.
“But I am aware that the financial picture is tough for most households. That’s why it is so important to hear from local residents. The Government has announced that PCCs are able to increase the precept by £14 per year for a Band D property, and I am keen to hear what people feel about that.”
Following this announcement, the Commissioner’s survey asks for people’s views on the amount they are willing to pay. There are asked whether they are:
• Willing to pay more than an additional 39p a week to help properly fund Leicestershire Police
• Willing to pay an additional 39p a week to maintain services levels from Leicestershire Police
• Not willing to pay an additional 39p a week which would result in service reductions from Leicestershire Police
Mr Matthews concluded: “The new Government is making some exciting promises, but these need to be paid for. Currently we are suffering from the costs of national decisions not being met by central government. To date we have just about managed to keep our head above the water line, but any more pressure and we may sink.
“I will continue to call for a review of the national police funding formula. Leicestershire 11th lowest funded per head of population, which as demand becomes greater and more complex inevitably brings us to a pinch point of priorities. I look forward to hearing what the public thinks.”
You can access the survey here https://forms.office.com/e/uQyGS1kvbg.
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Posted on Wednesday 18th December 2024