Halton asked to have say on 6.4% rise in cost of policing
John Dwyer, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, has launched a survey to find out residents' views.
File picture of police in Runcorn. (Runcorn Weekly News)
By Mark Smith, Local Democracy Reporter
Residents in Halton are being asked whether they would be prepared to pay more tax towards the cost of policing.
The county's Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer said inflation has added more than £14m to Cheshire police's costs, with £6.7m worth of savings already in the pipeline.
But he said action is needed to plug the remaining gap, with a 6.4% increase in the force's precept - the portion of council tax which goes towards policing - being eyed.
Mr Dwyer's office said such an increase would equate to £15-a-year for a band D property, or £1.25 a month.
Properties in bands A-C, which constitute the bulk of properties in the county, would pay less.
Mr Dwyer said: "Increasing the precept by 6.4% - below inflation - would allow the constabulary to meet this funding gap and maintain the improved level of service we have seen.
"The Chief Constable and I have focused relentlessly on the areas that matter most to people and things are moving in the right direction.
"However, setting the police precept is a responsibility I do not take lightly.
"I know that the cost of living is affecting people and public services in different ways and that's why I've provided a number of options in the survey.
"It's vital that I get the views of people right across Cheshire so please do have your say."
More than 40% of Cheshire police's funding came from council tax in 2022-23.
The commissioner said the money allowed the constabulary to make several improvements to things such as response times and arrest rates.
As well as gauging views on the proposed precept rise, the survey will also ask residents to have their say on what they think the police's priorities should be over the next year.
He added: "It's through the public's support via the police precept that we've been able to make Cheshire even safer over the past year and improve in a number of key areas.
"I want the constabulary to be able to maintain these improvements and that's why I'm launching this survey.
"I need people's feedback on what they want our police service to focus on in 2023-24 and what level the police precept should be set at to be able to achieve this."
The survey closes on January 24 and can be filled in here.
Read more news from Runcorn and Widnes, Cheshire, here.
