Police & Crime Commissioner - Newsletter & Consultation

Received from the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley - Anthony Stansfeld

"I have continuously lobbied the Government for a much-needed increase in police funding and so I am pleased that the Government has announced that an additional £813m will be available nationally to Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to fund local police forces. However, it must be recognised that more than half of this funding (£509m) is expected to come from local taxpayers by increasing the police portion of the Council Tax.
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Demand on police forces nationally has risen significantly in the last year as a result of higher crime numbers, the increasing complexity of crime, and the increasing reach of criminals both physically and via technology. This includes an increase in the reporting of high harm and previously hidden crimes such as child sexual abuse and modern slavery. The challenge from serious and organised crime networks is also growing both in economic value and the geographical spread, whilst nationally there has been a spike in serious violence and knife crime alongside the increase in a gang culture.  A significant amount of the more serious crime is now being committed by foreign national offenders.

In addition the police are dealing with a large amount of non-crime business, especially in relation to mental health. My focus will continue to be on delivering strong neighbourhood policing for all of the communities across the Thames Valley whilst addressing the serious threats and hardship posed by criminals.

An increase to the council tax will enable me to protect many of the vital functions that may otherwise have been reduced, and ensure that Thames Valley Police has more resources to tackle crime and keep the public safe.  I am therefore proposing to increase council tax by £24 (equivalent for a Band D household) and will ensure that all the extra cash generated from council taxpayers will be spent on operational policing.

I will be running a public consultation exercise over the Christmas period to gather local council taxpayer views on the proposed increase.   You can find more information about my public survey on the council tax increase below.   I encourage you to complete the survey and to share it widely with your local communities.  

Finally, I wish you all a Happy Christmas and New Year 
​Anthony Stansfeld "

In response to the exceptional operational demands on the police, particularly in areas such as Thames Valley, the Government has encouraged all PCCs to raise the policing element of the council tax by £24 a year in 2019/20 or £2 a month for a Band D property. (The increase in other property bands are detailed within the survey)

The PCC supports the increase in council tax by £24 for a Band D property.  The draft budget for 2019/20 includes additional funding to increase local frontline policing, recruit more investigators and improve contact management with the aim to reduce call waiting times on 101 calls.  Further information about the budget can be found here.

The PCC is holding a public consultation exercise over the Christmas period to gather local council taxpayer views on the proposed increase in the police portion of the council tax.  

To have your say on the propose increase, please complete the survey. Please share this widely with your communities.

The survey is open until Wednesday 9th January at 5pm

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