PCC Plans Council Tax Rise To Pay For More Officers

HAMPSHIRE’S Police and Crime Commissioner has proposed raising the police precept on council tax to pay for an extra 50 officers.

PCC Donna Jones wants to charge an extra £15 on the price of a Band D property in Hampshire to increase the amount of money going to the force.

The extra cash could fund the delivery of new police officers and to help tackle the pressures of rising costs. If the plan goes through it will mean the force has an extra £12.3 million from council tax.

Hampshire Police Federation Chair Zoe Wakefield said: “Obviously we all want more officers, and I’m always saying to you we don’t have enough resources. But the majority of our current officers live in Hampshire, so they’re having to pay more money in their council tax.

“I understand why the PCC is doing it, but actually the Government should be giving us the funding that we need for the officers that we need.”