Residents paying a police precept across County Durham and Darlington is needed to prevent crime and protect communities, the area’s commissioner has warned, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
People throughout the region are being asked how much they are prepared to pay towards policing in the Durham Constabulary force area through their council tax next year.
Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) have a responsibility for setting force budgets, which determine the amount of council tax that goes towards policing for their area.
Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said: “There’s no sugar coating it – this year’s precept is critical to maintaining current policing services, preserving capacity and effectiveness and ensuring residents receive the high-quality response needed to keep them safe.”
The Labour-elected PCC warned this year’s budget will be drawn up against a backdrop of spiralling cost pressures and has repeatedly said a growing wealth divide between forces is leaving forces like Durham Constabulary serving communities of entrenched deprivation behind.
It means ensuring the public’s policing service is both efficient and effective is becoming more challenging, PCC Allen added.
She said: “Notwithstanding the challenges we face being a low tax base area, the percentage of central funding we receive is based on a deplorably inadequate and outdated funding formula – and there appears to be no urgency to correct it.
“Despite all of this, Durham Constabulary remains one of the highest-performing forces in the country, famed for its innovation and excellence. I want that to continue, but we cannot afford to flounder waiting for the Government to address the inequity – we have to act now.”
Although more officers have been recruited in the past year, Durham Constabulary remains 119 officers short of 2010 levels.
Policing budgets are funded from two main sources, with an approximate split of 70% from central government and 30% from the amount local people pay towards policing through council tax.
Police forces with low tax bases, like Durham, have a higher proportion of Band A and B properties and are restricted in the revenue they can generate.
PCC Allen added: “As it currently stands, PCCs are still being denied the flexibility to set a precept beyond the Government’s maximum limit – despite overwhelming public support (at least locally in Durham) for an increase of £20 or more.”
The commissioner has also written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and regional MPs to voice her urgent concerns about the pay disparity.
To share your views on the precept, visit: https://forms.office.com/e/dWAqyH9b5W.
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
She is as much use as a chocolate fireguard costing us a fortune.
Kevin York why does the Land of the Prince Bishops reward failurez
Michael David Ramage I could think of a reason
Kevin York so could I.
The gravy train is coming to an end. Hopefully we will see more gravy train’s being derailed.
PCC Allen added: “As it currently stands, PCCs are still being denied the flexibility to set a precept beyond the Government’s maximum limit – despite overwhelming public support (at least locally in Durham) for an increase of £20 or more.”
That is utter rubbish !
Bankrupt the populous to fund your overspends !
Cut your salaries and pensions that’s the answer and stop giving money to unheard of organisations .
Nobody wants to pay more to fund joys empire their is a credit crunch !
wake up
Since it came out they were going to do away with PCC’s she has been on ever social media platform trying to make herself relevant to hold on to her cushy little money earner
What do they actually do ???
Nothing useful
She is yet another middle man /woman desperately trying to hold on to her job
Get rid of her
thank goodness this gravy train is ending soon