Residents in Cleveland are being given their say on how policing and crime is funded for the upcoming financial year.
Police and Crime Commissioner Steve Turner today (Wed 15 November) opened a survey for residents on the ‘policing precept’ – the amount they pay for policing in their council tax.
Take part in the survey now!It currently costs around £178m to provide policing and crime services in Cleveland. Central government provide 74.1% of this investment, with the remaining 25.8% raised through local taxpayers.
PCCs are encouraged to engage with communities about whether they would be willing to increase their financial contribution to policing in their local area.
In the 2024/25 budget, Steve plans to invest any increase in the policing precept into funding additional police officers.
The six-week consultation will ask residents to select from five options. These options are based on rates for a Band D property:
- No increase to the precept – residents will pay the same rate as last year
- An increase of £1 per month (4.1% increase) – 40 additional police officers
- An increase of £1.50 per month (6.2% increase) – 60 additional police officers
- An increase of £2 per month (8.3% increase) – 80 additional police officers
- An increase of £2.50 per month (10.3% increase) – 100 additional police officers
As most properties in Cleveland fall between tax bands A and C, most residents will pay less than the figures quoted above.
Respondents will also be asked to select one issue they want to see police focus on over the next year, with options including antisocial behaviour, burglary and violence.
Police and Crime Commissioner Steve Turner said: “I will never take the financial support of our communities for granted in our efforts to make Cleveland safer.
“With support from their contributions over the last two years, Cleveland Police has been brought out of ‘special measures’ and recruited 260 more police officers – exceeding national targets by 30.
“The force has one of the highest arrest rates in the country, their use of stop and search has increased by 40% in the last year and with an average of 4.1 seconds, they are among the fastest forces in the country for answering 999 calls.
“I’m really optimistic about the improvements I’ve already seen within Cleveland Police and feel excited about where the force can go from here with the right resource.
“However, it’s difficult to discuss tax increases at a time when many people in Cleveland are dealing with increased financial pressures.
“I want as many residents as possible to have their say about what they would be willing to pay for policing and where they want police to focus their efforts over the next 12 months.”
Staff from Steve’s office will visit communities across Cleveland to seek the views of residents on the following dates:
- Friday 17 November, 10:00-14:00, Hill Street Shopping Centre, Middlesbrough
- Friday 24 November, 10:00-14:00, Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, Hartlepool
- Friday 1 December, 10:00-14:00, Wellington Square, Stockton
- Other dates and locations TBC
The consultation will run to Sunday 31 December 2023, with a final precept proposal presented to Cleveland Police and Crime Panel in early February.