Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner, Jason Ablewhite is asking members of the public to tell him how much they are willing to support policing in a short survey launched today (Tues 8th Jan).
One of the Commissioner’s duties is to ensure that Cambridgeshire Constabulary has the resources it needs to keep people safe.
The Commissioner is inviting people to complete a short survey to tell him how much they are willing to contribute as part of their council tax for the coming year (2019/20).
Police and Crime Commissioner, Jason Ablewhite says:
“Chief Constable, Nick Dean and I have been working hard to ensure our Force is as efficient and effective as it can be. Last year, we introduced a new structure for local policing which brought an additional 50 officers to the front line. And, as a result of last year’s increase in the policing part of the council tax, a further 55 officers were also recruited and are now in training.
“Whilst those additional officers are very welcome, there are some harsh policing realities that we face. Demand on policing is growing. Cambridgeshire is a safe county, but police now spend more time tackling ‘hidden crimes’ such as domestic abuse, child sexual exploitation and modern day slavery. They also spend time working with partners to tackle vulnerability where there is a risk to an individual or members of the public.
“Our police force is still one of the lowest funded forces in the country and one of the most efficient costing 42p per person per day against a national average of 51p (per person per day). Cambridgeshire’s population is forecast to grow by 20% by 2031 but with government funding not currently linked to population growth, this is something we continue to press for change.
“We will continue to identify further efficiency savings, however in order to meet future demand, I propose to increase the policing part of the council tax by £2 per month per household (based on a Band D property). This equates to 50p per week or £24 per year. I would be grateful if you could spare a minute to complete a short survey. Your views will then help inform my final decision on how much to raise the policing part of the council tax.”
A link to the survey can be found here: link to Commissioner’s survey.
The survey runs from Tuesday 8th until Monday 28th January 2019.
Please note – views can also be given by telephone: 0300 333 3456 or by email:[email protected].
If emailing or telephoning, please state whether you agree with:
- Option 1: you agree to Increase by 33p per month (£4.00 per year)
- Option 2: you agree to Increase by £2 per month (£24.00 per year)
- Option 3: Increase by £10 per month (£120 per year
