Police tax hike will fund 40 more officers tackling sex offences
They are part of Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden’s Police and Crime Plan priority of cracking down on sexual violence, and improving outcomes for victims
Forty extra officers will join Lancashire Police in the Spring and form a dedicated Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Team tackling this type of crime.
They are part of Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden’s Police and Crime Plan priority of cracking down on sexual violence, and improving outcomes for victims, reports the Rossendale Free Press, Rossendale, Lancashire.
The new posts will be created thanks to the Police Uplift Programme as well as additional funding raised through the precept - the policing element of council tax.
Mr Snowden’s budget proposal includes a rise in the precept - the equivalent of £10pa for a band D property - every penny of which he has pledged to spend on fighting crime.
He said: “I’ve made tackling rape and sexual assault a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan and the investment in specialist officers I have pledged will make a real difference.”
Assistant Chief Constable Ian Dawson, who is leading the Violence against Women and Girls workstream at Lancashire Police, said the investment was “very welcome”.
He added: “Lancashire is recognised nationally as having a high number of positive outcomes for people affected by rape and sexual assault, however, we know there are areas in which we can improve.”
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