PCC asks public for views on Police Budget

Derbyshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts has launched a survey asking the residents of Derby and Derbyshire about the funding they pay towards policing and community safety.

The Commissioner recently unveiled her Police and Crime Plan, the priorities of which mirrored the views of residents across the force area.  Now, as she prepares to set her first budget for the 2025-26 financial year, she is asking for their views on any increase in the amount of council tax paid towards policing (the policing precept).

She said: "We are living in very challenging financial times, where any increase for some residents may be difficult.  Residents have my word that I will work with the Chief Constable and the Government to ensure every penny we get will be used to make a difference.  I am also determined that people will feel the difference in their community.

"Residents made their position clear in my consultation, prioritising the offences which cause the most harm, such as serious violence and violence against women and girls. 

"They want to see anti-social behaviour reduced, greater police visibility and effective strategies to prevent crime such as drug dealing.  They want more enforcement on our roads to boost road safety for all road users, they want to see rural crime tackled effectively, and they want online crime reduced. 

"They told me that it was important that offenders are brought to justice swiftly and a better service provided for victims and anyone impacted by crime.

"I have discussed these priorities with the Chief Constable who assures me that Derbyshire Constabulary can meet these expectations.  However, she emphasised that this will require investment.

"At this point in time we do not know what the Central Government Police Grant will look like, but we do know that around 40% of our funding will be coming from the police portion of the local Council Tax.  That's why it's really important to know how much additional funding local residents are prepared to pay to support the delivery of the police service they want and deserve.

"PCCs and local authorities across England and Wales are working to agree a budget for their area that will deliver on the national and local pledge to keep our communities safe."

Residents will be asked whether they are prepared to pay an additional £1.25 and £1.50 per month (equivalent to between £15 and £18 per year). This, along with the Forces Savings Programme, would provide funding to:

• Increase the number of police officers and police staff to protect the public and make Derbyshire a difficult place for criminals to operate.
• Boost the visibility of our neighbourhood policing teams to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.
• Improve road safety with more enforcement tackling speeding and dangerous driving.
• Effectively investigate offences causing the most harm such as serious sexual offences, serious violence and other Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG) offences.
• Prevent crime connected to substance misuse though long-term partnership working.
• Improve the services for victims of crime and those impacted by criminality.
• Swiftly bring offenders to justice, using all the options available.
• Invest in technology to enhance our service, including the response from the call handling centre and digital contacts (i.e. social media, online chat, reporting a crime online).
• Invest in new and existing police buildings to keep policing in the heart of our communities.

The alternative options are:

• Between £1.00 and £1.25 per month (equivalent to between £12 and £15 per year). This would not cover the costs of essential services, but with the internal Savings Programme, it would help the force to manage the impact of increased costs and maintain current service levels.   
• Between £0.67 and £1.00 per month (equivalent to between £8 and £12 per year). This would not entirely cover the increased cost of essential services and result in a reduction to some services.
• No increase.

Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts continued: "I urge every Derbyshire resident to complete the survey which will only take a couple of minutes.  It is really important to understand how much residents are prepared to pay towards an improved police service. 

"This is their police service, and as PCC I am the voice of the public, so I'm asking them to get involved and let me know their views.  I really believe that if we work together we can build the safer and stronger Derbyshire that we all wish to see."

The survey can be accessed by clicking here.