Residents urged to share views on local policing budget by 3 January

Published: 27 December 2024

Matthew Barber is asking residents to share their views on which areas they would like the policing element of council tax to be focused in the 2025/26 budget by completing his ongoing local crime survey.

The Police and Crime Commissioner is due to set the 2025/26 policing budget by the end of January 2025.

The allocation of central government funding for police forces is expected to be received in December. Alongside this, the funding settlement allows Police and Crime Commissioners to increase council tax in order to make additional investments in local policing. Last year, increases of up to £13 (for a Band D property) were permitted.

Matthew Barber said: “As Police and Crime Commissioner, it is my responsibility to ensure that Thames Valley Police has sufficient resources to effectively prevent and investigate crime, support victims and protect communities.

“Setting the policing budget remains a complex process of balancing priorities and I am acutely aware of financial pressures households are under. This year, I will be setting the budget, including determining the policing element of council tax, following central Government funding decisions that are set to affect employers up and down the country.

“I have already written to Government about reviewing the police funding formula. As a result of Government changes to the rate and threshold of Employers National Insurance Contributions and the police officer pay rise over the summer, tax payers will already see an additional financial pressure of £3.6m due to a shortfall in funding.

“This is before the usual pressures of inflation, the need to invest in new technology and respond to changes in crime trends.

“Regardless, residents rightly expect an exceptional service from their police force and I want to develop greater capacity and capability to further cut crime. I want to ensure that the policing budget can support this, deliver value for money and address the concerns and priorities of our communities.

“By sharing your views, you will help shape important decisions about police funding and how Thames Valley Police can continue to work to keep our communities safe.”

For the last financial year, the increase in council tax of 25p per week has helped to deliver the following:

• Recruited an additional 150 police officers across the force, including neighbourhood and Rural Crime Taskforce officers

• Implemented a Thames Valley-wide programme to help tackle knife crime

• Continued investment in the forensic improvement programme

• Investment to help tackle retail crime through the PCC’s Retail Crime Strategy

• Continued investment in a Thames Valley-wide CCTV partnership

• Road safety initiatives across Thames Valley, including the recent launch of the Road Safety Strategy

• Prevention of reoffending through the Restart programme

Alongside the ongoing local crime survey, residents of Thames Valley are able to attend regular public meetings where the policing budget is discussed and reviewed. Further details on these meetings (including meeting notes) can be found on the PCC website.

The survey can be completed at https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90503915/OPCC-public-consultation or by visiting the PCC website.

If you would like to share your views on the policing budget for 2025/26, please complete the survey by 12pm (noon) on Friday 3rd January 2025.