Policing precept increase approved for Dorset
It'll cost us an extra £13 a year to help fund local policing
People in Dorset are going to be spending more money on their police force.
An extra £13 a year will be added to council tax bills for an average Band D property from April.
The increase has been unanimously approved by the Dorset Police and Crime Panel, and also follows a public survey.
Nearly 2,000 people took part with results showing 75% of residents agreeing that Dorset Police needs more funding.
57% also said they would pay more towards the service.
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, David Sidwick said:
“Firstly, I want to thank each of the 1,984 people who responded to share their thoughts on police funding and precept.
“I want to be clear that asking the residents of Dorset for more money is not something I wanted to do, especially during a time when so many are feeling the pinch.
“But to ensure Dorset remains one of the safest places in the country, we need to be able to maintain our current position in order to continue driving down crime and protecting people from harm.
“Whether this is by tackling the issue of drugs through more prevention, treatment and tough enforcement with Operation Scorpion and Operation Viper, launching more rural crime initiatives like the Rural Mounted Volunteers or bringing in more funding money than ever for new projects towards the protection of women and girls against violence and anti-social behaviour, I am committed to ensuring every penny counts.
“Since I became Police and Crime Commissioner, I have relentlessly lobbied for a fairer funding deal for Dorset. I want to assure you I will continue to raise this issue until we see issues of sparsity and seasonality addressed in the way our Force is funded centrally.
“I will continue to fight to make Dorset the safest county for all of us. Achieving a better funding deal is integral to delivering the Police and Crime Plan, which means being tough on crime, keeping people safe and putting victims first.”
Dorset remains one of the lowest funded forces in the country.
Chief Constable Amanda Pearson said:
“Today’s agreement of the budget means we can now focus firmly on the year ahead and how we as a force are going to deliver an even better policing service to the communities of Dorset.
“I thank the Commissioner, the panel, and our communities for their support in increasing the precept – we will make every penny count.
“Dorset is one of the safest areas in the country, but we must not be complacent and should always focus on improvement to ensure we strive to be the safest county in the country.
“Our purpose continues to commit to being tough on crime, relentlessly pursuing those criminals who cause the most harm to our communities, keeping people safe and putting victims first.”