Five pence Council Tax rise could bring 18 more Police Officers to Cheshire
Macclesfield residents are invited to a survey which could see their council tax increase to improve the quality of policing.
Police Commissioner John Dwyer has launched and survey sent a letter to residents across our county about a possible council tax rise.
The consultation also gives you an opportunity to have your say on policing, directly to the Conservative ex-copper.
Questions include your experience with the police, crime in the community, what you think about the police budget, and how you feel about the police service.
To achieve Mr Dwyer's six key priorities from now to 2024, a council tax increase may be required.
One of the Commissioner’s key responsibilities is to set the police precept, the part of council tax that goes to policing.
In the survey he outlines the possibilities for next year’s decision on the police precept and asks residents for their thoughts on what should happen.
John Dwyer, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, said: “A small rise in the police precept will be necessary in order for the police to keep up with inflation. But I want to know what amount, if any, residents would be prepared to pay above this if it meant the Constabulary had more resources to devote to communities.
"Over 40% of Cheshire Police’s £242 million budget is made up through the Policing element of your Council Tax. And I want to be honest with you: To keep the Police at a standstill, we estimate that a small precept rise will be necessary.
"But if – like me – you want to see more Police Officers on the street, more Call Operators and faster pick up times when you contact 101, and more Intelligence Analysts helping track down hardened criminals, then an increase above standstill will be necessary too.
"Every extra 5p per week paid through Council Tax above standstill means an extra £1 million for your Police Service."
The PCC's team estimates that the following Council Tax increases could improve the following:
5p per week: 18 Officers, or 22 Intelligence Analysts, or 25 Call Operators
10p per week: 36 Officers, or 44 Intelligence Analysts, or 50 Call Operators
15p per week: 54 Officers, or 66 Intelligence Analysts, or 75 Call Operators
20p per week: 73 Officers, or 89 Intelligence Analysts, or 100 Call Operators
Mr Dwyer added: "As your Police and Crime Commissioner I control Cheshire Police’s £242 million budget. I set the Policing element of your Council Tax, and through my Police and Crime Plan I set out local policing priorities for the Chief Constable to deliver – to make sure your community is safe.
"That's why it's so important for you to know what I do. These are big decisions - And I want you to have your say.
"I want to hear from as many people as possible so Cheshire Police can deliver an outstanding service for your community.
"Fill in this survey and have your say about how you use your police service, crime in your area and what you’d like to see me do to make your community safer.
"Seeking the public’s views on policing and crime is important to me. I can’t do my role effectively without knowing what people are thinking. By sharing your views with me via my survey, I can feed your thoughts and needs into the work the Constabulary does.
“It’s vital that people know about the role that their Commissioner carries out on their behalf, and that I know what they expect me to deliver. This will help me to scrutinise the Chief Constable and deliver on the public’s priorities set out in my Police and Crime Plan.”
“Every response I get will feed into my police precept proposal that I will take back to the public early next year. I want every resident to have their say on what matters to their community and how they want their police service to deliver on their priorities.”