Maximum police tax increase and cuts to force numbers on cards for Leicestershire

Leicestershire: Residents might see their police tax go up in April. This increase is on top of council tax payments. It’s a precept for Leicestershire Police.

Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews wants to raise the precept by the maximum amount allowed. This would mean a Band D property would pay £300.23, which is a £14 increase.

Matthews says this hike is needed due to a tough financial outlook. He understands many families are struggling with costs but believes the increase is necessary. Not raising the precept could mean losing £350,000 a year for the police.

Even with the higher precept, the police still need to cut £8.2 million from their budget. Matthews mentioned that tough decisions are unavoidable.

Staffing cuts are also on the table, with 35 police roles set to go. This follows previous cuts of 91 staff roles and 50 Police Community Support Officers in the last two years.

The police force still needs to find another £1.1 million in savings to balance its budget. Rising costs are due to inflation, underfunded pay, and new laws affecting workloads.

Matthews has raised concerns about government funding for Leicestershire Police. The funding per resident is below the national average, making it one of the lowest funded forces in England and Wales.

He stated that the financial situation is tough for all public services, including the police. Despite saving £23.3 million over three years, they still face a budget deficit.

Matthews expressed disappointment over the government’s handling of National Insurance funding. There’s a £300,000 gap that affects safety funding for Leicester and Leicestershire.

He has consistently called for fairer police funding. Last year, the force handled over 197,000 emergency contacts and reported nearly 96,000 crimes.

Matthews emphasized that cutting crime and keeping people safe costs money. They need more funds to maintain essential services. This year, they’re using reserves for new initiatives, but it’s not a long-term fix.

He thanked the public for their support and acknowledged the hard work of the police force. A meeting will be held soon for councillors to discuss the proposed budget increase.