Cheshire residents urged to have a say on police budget
Last year, people supported a small rise in the police precept, the part of Council Tax that pays for policing. This extra money enabled Cheshire Police to maintain and improve performance in 2023. Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer said: “I have to set a budget for the next year that gives the police the resources they need to meet your expectations and keep you safe.
“To do that I need your feedback on what issues affect your community, how safe you feel, and how much you think local people should contribute to the police budget. “Last year residents backed a small rise in the police precept. “As a result, calls are being answered faster, incidents are being responded to quicker, there have been more arrests, more criminals charged and more ‘action taken’.
“Cheshire’s streets have more officers and fewer criminals on them.” Cheshire Police, he said, improved all the basics of policing last year. Mr Dwyer added: “Nobody should be in any doubt about the difference that having your say makes to policing in Cheshire.
“It’s through your support that the police were able to make our county even safer in 2023, so please do have your say.” To have your say, visit smartsurvey.co.uk/s/policebudget202425[1] Government funding for Cheshire Constabulary is set to increase, but not by the nearly GBP16 million added to the cost of policing.
Savings of more than GBP6 million have been identified, but to find extra funding for policing, commissioners can increase the police precept by GBP13 per year. This works out at GBP1.08 per month for a Band D Council Tax property, without the need to hold a referendum. Nearly two thirds of Cheshire properties fall into Bands A to C, meaning most households would pay less.
The closing date for completing the survey is midday on Tuesday, January 23.
References
- ^ smartsurvey.co.uk/s/policebudget202425 (www.smartsurvey.co.uk)