This in from the office of Simon Hayes, in their own words. Ed
Further to a 2% cap being imposed on the policing part of the council tax precept by Government, Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Hayes, has announced that he will be contributing just under £1 million from reserves to make up a shortfall in police funding for the coming year.
Despite receiving overwhelming support from the public in support of a 3% rise and receiving a majority vote by the Police and Crime Panel in favour of the precept rise, the Commissioner has been left with little choice but to accept a 1.99% rise and make up the £973,000 shortfall from reserves for the constabulary’s budget in 2014/15.
Unprecedented cuts to policing
The precept cap follows unprecedented cuts to policing in Hampshire, with £80 million cuts being pushed through in the seven years from 2010 to 2017 as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. These significant cuts have led to the Force planning an Operational Change Programme to enable it to deliver the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan despite the cuts and make it sustainable into the future.
Voicing his disagreement with the cap imposed by Government, Commissioner Hayes said:
“It is hugely disappointing that the Government has made the decision to cap increases at such a low level, in particular given the clear support from the local population for a 3% increase.
“The cap equates to a funding loss of nearly £1 million and puts additional pressure on our already squeezed budget for the coming year. With the public purse in mind I have decided against a costly referendum. Instead, I will increase the policing element of the council tax by 1.99% and make up the shortfall from our reserves to ensure we can sustain the current level of neighbourhood policing and keep our communities safe.
“This is not my preferred option, as using reserves put aside through careful budgeting only offers short-term relief for one year, whereas funds generated through a precept increase are generated for years to come. However, having listened to the feedback during my consultation with the public over this, I am absolutely clear that people want a strong local policing presence in their neighbourhoods, and that it’s therefore vital to pull out all stops to ensure the necessary funding is found.
“The extent of the cuts and the imposed cap this year will mean that we may need to look at further precept adjustments in the coming years. I will be monitoring the delivery of the changes as well as the budget carefully to ensure a continued quality policing service for all residents of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.”
