Police precept could rise by £14 per year

Residents faced an increase in their council tax contributions towards policing, with a proposed rise of £14 per year for a Band D household.

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) Danielle Stone put forward the 4.6% increase, which would bring the annual policing precept for a Band D property to £320.04 in 2025/26.

Ms Stone said the additional funding would help maintain police officer and PCSO numbers, improve public safety, and enhance neighbourhood policing.

She said: "People have told me clearly that they want to feel safer, that they want a police service that engages with them, listens to the issues that matter most to them and takes action to prevent and investigate crime."

She added: "This budget will mean that the Chief Constable can make those improvements."

The budget included £1m for urgent policing priorities, including the recruitment of 20 new police staff investigators to support officers and improve public service.

Further investments would be made in crime prevention, youth engagement specialists, police officer vetting, and officer health and wellbeing, under the plans.

Local taxpayers contribute 44% of the total policing budget, a higher proportion than in many other parts of the UK.

Ms Stone highlighted that Northamptonshire's police funding formula had not been updated in over a decade.

A separate £5 annual increase has also been proposed for the fire service, taking a Band D household's contribution to £80.39 per year.

Ms Stone added: "Funding for policing in this county has not kept pace with the population increase, and our funding is allocated on a formula that has not been updated for more than 10 years.

"It doesn't reflect current demand and the needs of Northamptonshire. That's not fair."

The Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel will review the proposals on 5 February.

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