Police Precept Increase Proposed To Fund New Officers And Crime Initiatives

Hampshire and Isle of Wight residents could see a rise in their council tax bills to help fund local policing, under plans to invest £9.9 million in new initiatives and recruit 36 additional officers.

The region’s Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Donna Jones, is proposing an increase in the police precept which would see Band D council taxpayers pay 5.45 per cent more – the equivalent of an extra £15 per year.

A public consultation, which closed in December, showed strong support for the move, with more than 92 per cent of respondents backing a higher police precept.

The PCC’s proposed budget includes funding for five additional local officers, 16 new neighbourhood policing officers, and the creation of a specialist fugitive team made up of 15 officers and three analysts, aimed at targeting high-harm offenders.

Further investment is also planned in areas such as technology, forensic services, wellbeing support for frontline staff and police estates.

A report from the PCC’s office states that the proposals represent a 4.2 per cent overall increase in funding, helping deliver priorities such as boosting officer numbers and increasing police visibility.

It adds that most government grants will remain unchanged, placing additional financial pressure on police forces.

The report says the PCC carefully considered public opinion alongside the impact of setting the precept at a lower level than £15 for Band D properties.

More than 4,100 responses were received during the four-week online consultation, which ended on December 2.

The top three priorities identified by respondents were tackling anti-social behaviour, vehicle crime and burglary.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Panel is due to consider the proposed budget at a meeting on Monday, February 2.