Cumbria’s crime commissioner wants to know what people think about raising the polices portion of council tax.
The county council gets the lion’s share of the council tax, and the rest is split between district and parish councils and the police.
Crime commissioners across the country have been given permission by the Government to charge up to an extra £15 a year for a Band D property.
Cumbria’s Peter McCall said he was proposing a rise of £6.60 a year.
Mr McCall said: “Over the last three years working with the chief constable and with your support as council taxpayers, we have been able to improve the policing service here in Cumbria and make a real difference in tackling crime in our communities.
“Funding for policing does not all come from government grant alone and it is not enough to allow us to recruit further officers, deploy dedicated officers into the community where you want to see them, and pay for our existing service, without an increase in council tax.
“The Government has recognised this and is allowing police and crime commissioners to increase the council tax precept by up to £15 per year for a Band D property.
“I realise that many families and businesses are facing financial uncertainty, especially here in Cumbria where we are heavily reliant on the tourism and hospitality sector.
“However, I do know that we need safe communities in order to be prosperous communities too and a strong performing police service has never been so much needed.
“I do not believe it is right in these circumstances to ask you to pay the full increase of £15 per year for a Band D.
“I am aware that most areas across the country are intending to apply the full £15 charge, but I am proposing an increase of 55p a month, for many it will be less.
“I hope that you will feel able to support this to maintain and improve the strong service given by Cumbria police.
“The chief constable has requested an increase in council tax precept to maintain and more importantly, further improve our existing service by expanding the police presence and physically basing more officers in rural communities, develop and improve how you contact the force and continue to improve safeguarding children and the most vulnerable.
Chief Constable Michelle Skeer said: “2020 has been very challenging both personally and professionally, for us all as we adapt to health guidance, regulations and changing the way we do things as we try to keep ourselves, our families, our friends and our communities safe.
“I don’t underestimate the impact that this global health pandemic has had and continues to have on everyone.
“We have carefully scrutinised our budget to see if we can continue our plan of delivering an excellent policing service without having to request additional funding from you, but unfortunately we can’t do this without having to cut the policing service we deliver.
“Reluctantly, I have asked our police and crime commissioner for an additional 55p a month (for band D properties).
“This is the minimum amount we need to enable us to cover our increasing costs and continue to deliver our plan and provide an excellent policing service to our local communities.
“Community policing is at the heart of what we do and despite the challenges this year, I am pleased that we have managed to continue our plan to have dedicated officers deployed in our rural communities.
“We have seen them in smaller towns such as: Alston, Ambleside, Appleby, Brampton, Dalton, Keswick, Kirkby Stephen, Longtown, Millom, Wigton and Windermere.
“These officers are making a big difference already, tackling local issues and proactively preventing crime.
“We have plans to introduce more dedicated officers to Ulverston and other areas, in 2021, whilst maintaining our policing operations in the larger urban centres, but we need additional funding for this to happen.
“Listening to what our communities are saying, developing our public contact services is a priority for 2021, so people can contact an officer at a time and method that’s convenient for them, this is something we must invest in and deliver.
“This past year we have seen an increase in people needing our help to keep them safe, including an increase in mental health related incidents, it is vital we continue to invest and develop services in this area.
“This year has seen my officers spending a considerable amount of time supporting this global health emergency, overcoming huge challenges personally and professionally.
“We have also had to deal with the “normal” day-to-day policing issues that continually threaten our local communities such as cross-border crime, safeguarding and protecting those who are most vulnerable, managing dangerous offenders as well as proactively tackling policing issues in your local communities.
“I hope that the public continue to support us at Cumbria Constabulary, so that we can continue to improve our service to our communities and keep Cumbria safe.”
To have your say, take part in a survey.
It is available online here https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/TND7OX/ and paper copies of this survey can be obtained by ringing 01768 217734 or emailing commissioner@cumbria-pcc.gov.uk
The survey will close at 5pm on January 26.
