PCC seeks local people’s views on increase in the policing part of the council tax

17 December 2020

Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Sue Mountstevens has launched a survey seeking local people’s views on an increase in the policing part of the council tax.

Local policing is funded by a combination of Home Office and other grants, as well as council tax contributions.

The Home Office grant has been frozen for next year but the Government has announced that PCCs can raise the policing part of the council tax next April by 6.6%, equivalent to £15 per year for an average band D household.

A £15 increase, approximately £1.25 per month, would mean additional investment could be made in your police service to tackle the crimes which affect victims the most.

If the policing part of the council tax is not increased, Avon and Somerset Police would have to make significant savings which would result in a reduction of police services.

Avon and Somerset Police Federation Chair, Andy Roebuck, said: “In Avon and Somerset Constabulary we are having an uplift of 457 Police Officers, which is our part of the national 20,000 uplift. This is an exciting time for policing, but our period of austerity has not totally gone away. There is a need for the Force to save money in other areas, which will have an impact on the effective use of our uplifted officers and the force capability. With Operation Remedy, we have demonstrated how investment in policing, with targeting certain crime types and criminals, that we get better results. Our officers have arrested more offenders, detected more crimes and prevented more offences, bringing less victims. For policing and our communities that is important. This PCC Consultation is key for our understanding and looking to increase our precept. We need to do this so to secure policing for the future and for us to continue moving forward. Please use the consultation to support an increased precept and move your policing forward.”

Take the survey here