Police boss says ‘no choice’ but to increase council tax
COMMISSIONER: ‘LITERALLY PENNIES PER WEEK WILL SAVE JOBS’
POLICE and crime commissioner Keith Hunter says he has no choice but to propose an increase in how much people pay towards policing through their council tax.
Under his plans, Band D households in Hull and the East Riding will pay an extra £15 per year from April.
However, around half of all residents in the two areas live in the lowest property bands.
As a result, they will face an increase of between £9.88 and £11.44 if his proposals are approved.
Mr Hunter said: “Last year, I had some financial flexibility and increased council tax by one of the lowest rates in the country, and way below what the Government expected us to do.
“I was able to do that through the sound financial planning, which had allowed Humberside Police to recruit more officers proportionately than any other police force in the country.
“This year, because of another below-inflation allocation from Government for the officers and staff we already employ, I have no real flexibility.
“If I do not increase by the amount stipulated by Government, the reality is jobs will be lost.
“That will mean fewer police officers and fewer police staff, with other officers being pulled from neighbourhoods to fill the jobs that our excellent police staff should be performing.”
Mr Hunter said no one wanted to see cuts to policing numbers after a recent increase in new recruits for the force funding by his office.
“For the next year, the Government has provisionally allocated the Humberside area more money but specifically to deliver an increase of 95 police officers.
“The money allocated for those additional officers must be spent only on them and their recruitment and associated training and equipment.
“For the remainder of the 2,000-plus police officers and approximately 1,200 police staff we already have, the Government have allocated a below-inflation grant and have placed a virtual requirement on PCCS to raise the amount they receive through council tax by £15 per year for a band D property.”
Mr Hunter said ignoring that requirement was not a practical option.
He added: “In my many discussions with members of the public, I have never heard anyone saying they want fewer officers.
“Humberside Police has made huge strides over recent years and is a transformed organisation, recognised as the most-improved police force in the country, but it still needs further investment of officers, staff and equipment if it is to deliver the level and style of visible, interactive and responsive policing it is building now.
“Reducing the level of policing now would be to start turning the clock back.
“I fully understand any increase is unwelcome in these financially challenging times, but for the sake of literally pennies per week we can save jobs and continue the improvement in Humberside Police that will benefit everyone.”
■ People can complete an online survey on the police and crime commissioner’s council tax proposals by visiting www.humbersidepcc.gov.uk