Have your say on police funding

10 January 2018

Leicestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is asking council tax payers if they would be willing to pay an extra £1 a month on their bills to help pay for policing.

Lord Willy Bach

Lord Willy Bach, in encouraging residents in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to complete a survey to let him know their views, says his first priority is to sustain and improve visible Neighbourhood Policing.

He explains: “Despite a significant and continuing increase in population across the whole of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, between 2009 and 2016, we have 547 fewer police officers; that is around 23 per cent. We now have one police officer per 601 members of the public.  In 2006 there was one police officer per 430 members of the public.  Nationally, police numbers have gone down by 20,000, their lowest for 30 years.

“Government grant continues to decline in real terms.  In order that Leicestershire Police can provide the best possible service to local communities, after careful consideration I am convinced that it is necessary to increase the policing element of your local council Band D tax bill by £1 per month from an annual cost of £187.23 for 2017/18 to £199.23 for 2018/19.  This in line with what the Government expects PCCs to do across the country in order to support policing.”

Take part in the survey.

The survey closes on Monday 15 January 2018.