Have your say on how much you pay for police
WEST Lancashire residents are to be asked how much they are willing to contribute to boost police funds.
Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw is launching the consultation after learning that the Government will offer no extra money to Lancashire Constabulary’s budget next year.
Although funding overall is being increased, much of it is being dedicated to tackling cyber crime and to be kept in reserve to respond to major incidents such as terror attacks.
Since 2010, Lancashire Constabulary has had to make savings of more than £72m with an estimated £16m in further savings to find by 2020.
Proposals set out by the Government mean that any extra funding to invest in policing must come from council tax payers.
Mr Grunshaw will ultimately be responsible for deciding how much is added to council tax for policing and wants residents to have their say on what they contribute.
People will be asked if they want to keep the rise to 6p per week, which would help safeguard some police jobs; increase it by about 23p per week, or opt for a 40p per week increase, which would allow additional investment in frontline policing.
Mr Grunshaw said, “Since 2015 the Government have assumed that police and crime commissioners like myself must put up the council tax precept to minimise the impact of their cuts to funding.
“In their announcement before Christmas, they highlighted the need to invest in policing after years of cuts to local budgets, but are passing the buck on to local residents.
“Every year one of my responsibilities is to set the council tax precept. This is the amount of money that householders pay towards policing in the county. With rising demands, increasing costs through inflation and growing online threats we cannot accept a further reduction in our budget.
“Across the county, residents tell me that they want to see better investment in policing. It might seem like a small amount but an extra 23p per week from the average household would raise over £5m for policing in Lancashire. This would protect officer and staff roles that would otherwise be lost and allow us to invest in a better policing service, fit for the future.”
Residents can have their say by completing an online survey and the commissioner’s office will conduct a phone survey with a sample of residents from all over the county in the coming weeks.
Anyone who wants to receive a paper copy of the survey can call 01772 533 587 and one will be sent.