Commissioner proposes 1.99% increase in council tax precept to pay for more police officers

The Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, Julia Mulligan, has launched a public consultation over the proposed precept for North Yorkshire Police.

Julia is proposing to increase the North Yorkshire Police precept – the amount added by North Yorkshire Police to council tax bills – by 1.99%. This equates to £4.07 per annum, or 8p per week, for a Band D property.

She says the increase, alongside work to secure £10m of efficiency savings, will help enable North Yorkshire maintain police officer numbers at a time when other forces are shrinking theirs.

Last year, following feedback from the public, officers and staff, Julia Mulligan and Chief Constable Dave Jones overturned a decision to reduce the number of police officers, increasing them from 1,270 back up to 1,392: the number Julia inherited on taking office.

As a result, the Commissioner has to fund 122 more officer posts. Raising the precept by 1.99% will fund 24 of these officer posts. The remainder of the shortfall will be met through efficiencies and savings in other areas.

Julia Mulliagan said: These are extremely challenging times for police forces across the country. Like all public sector organisations, we need to maintain and improve services while reducing spending.

Along with various other proposals – such as collaboration with partners and a review of senior staff – I am doing my best to ensure that North Yorkshire Police has the resources and police officers it needs to keep people safe.

The public has been clear that police officers on the beat are their number one priority. Everyone now has a chance to say whether or not they accept the cost of this at an average of just over £4 a year per household.

You can do so by completing a quick survey from the front page of my website. The results will be published shortly after the closing date of 31 January.

Members of the public wanting to have their say on the council tax precept can do so by visiting www.northyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk and clicking the ‘precept’ button on the homepage.

You can also have your say by calling 01423 569 562, emailing info@northyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk or writing to: Freepost RTCL-AGAE-TRTS, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, 12 Granby Road, Harrogate, HG1 4ST.