THE West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel has supported the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposal to increase the police element of the council tax.

It will go up by 4.99%, equivalent to £9.33 on a Band D property or less than 15p per week for most taxpayers who are in Band A and B.

The Commissioner is responsible for setting the budget for West Yorkshire Police. This includes setting the local ‘police precept’, which is the part of council tax that goes to the police. As part of its role to scrutinise and support the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), the Police and Crime Panel has to decide whether to back his proposed precept increase for 2020/21.

This year the Government has again allowed flexibility to PCCS to enable them to propose an increase in the policing precept up to the level of £10 on a Band D property. West Yorkshire continues to have the third lowest level of policing precept included within residents’ council tax in the country. The PCC has consulted with the public and found that the majority of respondents are happy to pay more.

The Panel emphasised that their support for the increased precept was based on Mark Burns-Williamson's commitment to continue to recruit a further 311 police officers and over 100 police staff as well as protecting PCSO posts to continue to strengthen neighbourhood policing.

The PCC also committed to ensure further resources are targeted at early interventions to prevent criminal behaviour and improving digital investigations to ensure better and faster outcomes for victims.

Chair of the Police and Crime Panel, Cllr Mohammed Iqbal said “It has been a hard decision for the members on the Police and Crime Panel as we recognise that this increase is an additional burden to Council Tax payers of West Yorkshire, however this has to be balanced with the need to keep the public safe at a time of increasing demand on police services and to ensure that there is a sustainable source of funding to increase the base budget for policing going forward."

"I am pleased that the Panel has chosen to support the PCC to help continue to rebuild police officer numbers in West Yorkshire and target interventions to ensure that crime in the area continues to reduce.

“The Panel has made it clear to the Commissioner that just increasing the numbers of police officers alone is not the answer to reducing crime and keeping people safe in West Yorkshire. The Panel will scrutinise and challenge the Commissioner for the spending agreed today and we will be reporting to residents of West Yorkshire through our meetings and our website to give assurances about value for money.

"The Police and Crime Panel are particularly keen to ensure that the Commissioner meets his recruitment targets and delivers on his commitments to improve outcomes, whilst ensuring value for money for the people of West Yorkshire.

Mr Burns-Williamson, said: “I am really pleased the Police and Crime Panel have decided to support my proposal to raise the precept by 4.99 per cent which equates to no more than £7.26 a year for most households in West Yorkshire.

“This money will ensure resources for more police officers and help protect the numbers of Police and Community Support Officers (PCSOs) visible in neighbourhoods.

“I am acutely aware of the potential financial impact on individuals within the community, but have also taken note of the wider public views with 79% of respondents in my recent survey supporting the level of increase proposed.

“Maintaining and rebuilding core operational resilience is imperative in order to keep the communities of West Yorkshire safe and feeling safe and I am pleased this view is supported by the majority of those who completed my recent survey and by the Police and Crime Panel.”

A full report outlining the Panel’s decision and recommendations will be submitted to the Commissioner by February 8th and published on the Police and Crime Panel’s website