19 November 2003 - HPA158

POLICE FUNDING PROPOSALS STILL LIKELY TO HIT COUNCIL TAX

Although slightly better than anticipated, the proposed 3.25% increase in Government funding for police in Hertfordshire could still hit council tax payers hard when they get their bills next March.

Chairman of Hertfordshire Police Authority, Ian Laidlaw-Dickson said: “Having just received the news, it’s too early to say exactly what our options will be but an increase in council tax of about 15% is not going to be out of the question. We know there are going to be some difficult decisions to make but we want to deliver on our promise to continue to put more police officers on the streets across the county.

In advance of Wednesday’s announcement by the Home Office, Hertfordshire Police Authority has been consulting its MORI Citizen’s Panel to find out how they feel about the possible increases in council tax. “Almost half (49%) of residents surveyed have told us that they would be willing to pay more council tax to improve local police services,” said Ian. “And the vast majority of them said they wanted that extra money spent on improving levels of visible policing”

The 3.25% increase is well short of the 6% plus that the Police Authority needs to maintain the current level of service. A range of options will now be developed in time for the Police Authority's Strategy Committee meeting on 19 December.

Herts Beat 2008
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