John Dwyer, Police & Crime Commissioner for Cheshire is asking the public whether they would be prepared to pay extra to enhance local policing in Cheshire and is suggesting a 1.99% increase in the policing part of the council tax.
John Dwyer explains: "An important part of my role as your Police & Crime Commissioner is to set the budget for policing in Cheshire. This is a decision that I do not take lightly. I need to fund the police to prevent and reduce crime, place victims at the centre of the services that the police deliver and protect the front line.
"Following the recent announcement from Government about future police funding, I have to find £8 million savings from the Cheshire Constabulary budget next year to make sure that there is sufficient money to balance the books whilst achieving the aims I set out in my Police & Crime Plan.
"The root and branch review of policing I instigated, I am pleased to say, has already identified significant efficiency savings. When I speak to the public, they say that they want to see more officers on the beat and I have been working with the Chief Constable to shape policing for the future. Next year, the Constabulary will be changing the way it works to further improve neighbourhood policing. We aim to achieve a visible, agile and well equipped service to meet the increased challenges of policing Cheshire such as the increased threats of child sexual exploitation and cybercrime. The Chief Constable has made proposals to make further savings by changing the way contracts are negotiated, how frontline staff are supported by back office functions and in the way that the Constabulary is structured.
"In previous years, I have been able to accept a 'freeze' grant from the Government and not increase the level of council tax paid for policing. If I were to do that again in 2015, there would be a shortfall and I would be forced to make cuts which would affect service delivery.
"Cheshire residents currently pay one of the lowest levels of council tax for policing in the country. The Home Secretary has given Police & Crime Commissioner's the freedom to raise council tax by up to 2%. A 1.99% increase in Council Tax would mean an increase of under 6p per week for an average Band D household. This would support an enhanced local policing service to support the new policing model and put extra officers on the streets, something that the public tell me that they want to see.
"With this in mind, I am asking the public whether they would be prepared to pay up to a 1.99% increase, £3 per year for a Band D household."
Click here to provide your feedback.
The consultation closes on 16th January 2015.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
I have told John Dwyer (and shown him the HMIC data) that he needs to do yet more to increase efficiency, ie value for money. For example, dealing with high levels of "sickness absence" amongst the non-police officer staff (which are at a similar level as that for officers).
The "Click here to provide your feedback" device is pathetic - all you can do is say Yes or No!
If past history is anything to go by those officers would be redirected to other duties at the first sign of any shortfall.
If Mr Dwyer and The Chief Const are prepared to guarantee the extra officers and state the precise location of such additional officers and their their patrol duties I may change my opinion but I would need a lot of convincing.
Improving the time each officer actually spends patrolling his/her patch is a major issue.
Management need to work smarter. More money is NOT the answer. It is however the easiest.