PCC invites residents to respond to her budget plans

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen is inviting residents to have their say on how policing will be funded for the upcoming financial year.

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The online survey will help the County Durham and Darlington PCC determine support for a small rise in the policing precept – the portion of council tax that helps to fund policing locally – as she prepares to set the 2025-26 budget.

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Residents are also being asked to share their concerns about key community issues including anti-social behaviour (ASB), violence against women and girls (VAWG), road safety and any other problems impacting their lives.

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PCCs are responsible for setting a budget each year that will enable Chief Constables to have the resources necessary to police their areas in the way the public expects.  

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Police funding comes from two main sources, with approximately 70% from central government and the rest from the amount people pay towards policing through the precept.

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In launching the consultation, the PCC highlighted the financial challenges impacting the force due to an insufficient central government grant that has not kept pace with inflation. This has been exacerbated by the absence of the £1million the force previously received in capital funding to invest in buildings, technology or vehicles.

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Commissioner Allen said: “While I strongly support the Government’s pledge to increase neighbourhood policing across England and Wales, we would need significant extra funding to avoid escalating our financial pressures further.

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“For these reasons, it is more important than ever that the money local people contribute towards policing can work harder to sustain services and mitigate against future risks.

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“Police spend per head of population varies greatly from force to force. In Durham and Darlington, we are limited by the high proportion of households that fall into the lower tax bands of A and B. This means that for every 1% precept increase, Durham can raise approximately £460k – 50% lower than North Yorkshire at £920k.

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“There are also higher demand pressures than our central grant provides, not to mention unique social challenges owing to our location. We are still one of nine forces with fewer police officers than in 2010 – a situation I continue to challenge through my lobbying work for a fairer settlement.

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“In setting the budget for the year ahead, it is vital we support growth to deliver the strong and effective policing service our communities deserve. I am proud of our many successes, but I am determined to do more.

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“I am grateful to the public for continuing to engage with our safety work. All views will be considered before making my final recommendations to the Police and Crime Panel.”

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The extra income raised through the precept in 2023/24 has made a significant impact on the force’s capabilities, contributing to investment in maintaining officer and PCSO numbers, boosting the Special Constabulary, recruiting extra call handlers to decrease call handling times and advanced technology to enable officers to do more work in the neighbourhoods in which they serve.  

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This year, a rise in the precept would maintain police officer numbers, increase visibility on the streets and tackle drink and drug related crime and ASB, enable further investment in information technology, investment in roads policing to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on the area’s roads and investment in the estate and fleet.

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PCCs are limited to how much they can increase the precept each year by a cap set by the Government. Last year, that was set at £13 per year (based on a Band D property) despite strong public support locally for a precept increase of £15 or more.

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Residents are urged to complete the short survey at: https://online1.snapsurveys.com/tv4dxx.

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Alternatively, email General.EnquiriesPCC@durham-pcc.gov.uk to request a paper copy.

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Ends