Wiltshire Police boss’s plea for £12 extra

4 January 2018

Wiltshire Time John Baker Reporter

WILTSHIRE’S police commissioner Angus Macpherson is urging people to agree to pay £1 extra a month to safeguard policing in the county. Consultation started this week to ask householders their views on a proposed increase of £12 a year to the police force’s part of council tax.

Now police and crime commissioner Mr Macpherson is asking them the question: “Would you be prepared to pay an extra pound a month to protect our police force?” At the moment the average band D household contributes £14.19 per month to local policing, but if people back the proposal then this would rise to £15.19 per month.

“In fact we receive the fourth lowest funding per head of population in England and Wales.”

Since 2010, Wiltshire Police has received £19 million less but have been responding to more crimes and supporting more members of the public year on year.

Mr Macpherson said: “Whilst we live in an incredibly safe county, there’s only so far the budget will stretch and we’re streamlining our services to ensure they’re as efficient as possible at the same time as keeping the public safe, but we are feeling the squeeze more than ever.

“Without this increase Wiltshire Police will have to look at further reductions in officers and staff to close a budget gap of around £3m.

“This increase will mean that I can protect frontline services from further reductions.

The consultation which started on Tuesday runs to midday on January 31 and gives people a chance to comment on the proposed increase. Go to www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk, or email pcc@wiltshire.pcc.pnn.gov.uk or use #AskAngusPCC on social media.