Public asked for views on possible precept increase

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Lord Willy Bach, is seeking the public’s views on whether or not they would support an increase in the policing element of the Council Tax.

The budget for policing in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland during 2018-19 was set at £176.3m. Approximately two-thirds of that comes from Central Government with the remainder raised through the policing element of the Council Tax. In Leicestershire, since 2010, there has been around a 30% reduction in Government funding despite a significant increase in the population of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Between 2010 and 2018 the force has had to cut officer numbers by 541 - that is around 23%. In 2006 there was one police officer per 430 members of the public. In 2018 there is now one police officer per 602 members of the public. Nationally, police numbers have gone down by more than 20,000, their lowest level for 30 years.

As PCC, Willy Bach is responsible for the provision of an effective and efficient police service. He is keen to invest in the police and wants to ensure the force has the resources it needs to provide the type of police service the public expect and deserve.

In order to do that, Lord Bach says he has little option but to consider increasing the policing element of the Council Tax. This is in line with what the Government has said it expects PCCs across the country to do.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) wants to hear the views of the public and is urging them to fill in the short survey which can be accessed here.

Ends

Media enquiries:  Sallie Blair 01283 821012

Posted on Thursday 6th December 2018
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