Cost of policing rises 1.7 per cent

POLICE and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer has set the police budget which sees investment in policing and will lead to an increase in police officers on the streets of Cheshire.
It will mean the average, Band D household across the county will pay an extra £3 a year for police – a rise of £1.7 per cent.
Mr Dwyer (right) said: “The budget I have set will allow for additional investment in policing thanks to the support I have received from the public to increase the council tax for policing by £3 per year for an average Band D household.
“Cheshire residents currently pay one of the lowest levels of council tax for policing in the country. The Home Secretary has given Police & Crime Commissioner’s the freedom to raise council tax by up to 2 per cent.
“A 1.97 per cent increase in the police part of the Council Tax means an increase of under 6p per week.
“This supports an enhanced local policing service to support the new policing model and put extra officers on the streets, something that the public tell me that they want to see”.
Mr Dwyer said he had had to find £8 million of savings to make sure there was enough money balance the books and achieve the aims of his Police and Crime Plan to create a truly victim centred service.
Chief Constable, Simon Byrne said: “I am grateful to the Police and Crime Commissioner and the people of Cheshire for supporting the budget which will enable me to implement my plans to change the way the Constabulary works to improve neighbourhood policing.
“ The development of a flexible and visible local police service, backed by a professional support function which is centralised and efficient, will result in a greater focus on those things that matter most to the public and support victims of crime”.
In a survey last month, Mr Dwyer asked the public if they were prepared to pay to to a 1.99 per cent increase for a Band D house.
More than 1,000 took part – and 70 per cent stated they would be prepared to pay a 1.99 per cent increase.