Police consult over increased contributions

ALL AREAS: Plans to increase the public’s contribution towards Thames Valley Police have gone under consultation.

Every year, police forces around the UK ask for contributions from residents in their council tax. This money goes towards pay and price rises, hiring additional police officers, and strategic investment funding.

For 2021/22, the police and crime commissioner for the Thames Valley, Anthony Stansfeld, has proposed an increase in the amount residents contribute. For those in band A properties the increase will be £10 over the year, In band D it is an annual increase of £15 and in band H it is a £30 rise.

An online survey has been created where residents can provide their feedback on the proposed changes.

Mr Stansfeld has pledged to invest the money in recruiting more PCSOs, creating a rural crime taskforce, and dedicate more resources to tacking county lines drug gangs.

He said: “Despite the increase in funding from government, there continue to be cost pressures on the Force and the public rightly expect to see improving performance in order to keep us all safe and bring criminals to justice.

“It is important that any increase in council tax now, at a time when many families are struggling, is focussed on frontline policing to tackle the concerns of the public.”

To participate in the consultation, which closes on Wednesday, January 20, visit https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90305410/CouncilTax-Survey-2021-22