Households to pay more tax towards policing costs
BBCHouseholds are facing a rise in the amount of council tax going towards the cost of policing with three police and crime commissioners (PCCs) planning an increase in the precept.
Northumbria's PCC has proposed a 9.45% rise - an extra £18.50 a year for those in band D properties, which is the maximum "exceptional" amount allowed by the Home Office.
In the Cleveland force area, which the PCC said had received the worst funding settlement in the country, a 4.72% hike is proposed - an extra £15 for band D.
The County Durham and Darlington PCC has been urged to reconsider a proposed 6.5% rise - meaning band D properties would pay £18.50 more.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the police and crime panel was told by Durham PCC Joy Allen that not increasing the precept by the maximum amount could threaten policing services and risk the long-term financial viability of the force.
She said: "Despite an apparent increase in headline funding, the settlement for 2026/27 does not meet real cost pressures facing Durham Constabulary.
"This decision is not simply about a number on a council tax bill, it's about whether we protect local policing or knowingly expose our local communities to avoidable cuts to frontline services.
"The proposal strikes the fairest possible balance between affordability and the protection of services."
However, some members of the cross-party group wanted the increase to be reduced due to ongoing financial difficulties for residents.
Councillor Robbie Roddis, Reform member for Crook, said: "It seems that this Government is pushing more costs on to the public and it's the people of county Durham that have to pay."
Liberal Democrat councillor Ellie Hopgood added: "I am in favour of the precept but there has got to be a limit on the pressure we are putting on residents."
The committee urged the PCC to limit the precept increase to £15 and to ask the government for additional financial support.
Difficult choices
A report by Cleveland's PCC Matt Storey claimed the force was operating with one hand behind its back after "the worst funding settlement in the country considering funding provided from the government, and the amount that can be raised from the local precept".
It said: "As the funding has failed to keep pace with the level of inflation, and other funding has been removed and reallocated elsewhere within the country, then it is unfortunately not possible to maintain current levels of service, and difficult choices will be required to balance the budget.
"Any increase below this [£15] level would lead to further reductions in service."
A meeting of the police and crime panel approved the increase.
In a report ahead of a Northumbria police and crime panel meeting, PCC Susan Dungworth said: "I have to set the scene here, the budget will be tight and there are difficult choices to be made, raising a precept being one.
"Sustaining current police levels by slightly increasing the police element of the council tax is what we need to happen if we are going to protect and sustain current policing levels and we are all keen for that."
Additional reporting by Daniel Holland and Stuart Arnold of the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
