Police commissioner proposes maximum tax rise

The Suffolk police and crime commissioner has proposed the maximum possible increase in council tax to ensure the county's force is "efficient and effective".

Commissioners across the country have been given the ability to raise the policing element of the precept by a maximum of £15 a year, based on a Band D property.

Tim Passmore has proposed taking advantage of the maximum increase in Suffolk, saying that without investment the force would not be able to "keep up with the increased demands placed upon it".

People are being asked for their views on the issue in a survey that will be open until 29 January.

Passmore said it was "highly regrettable" the tax had to go up and he warned that without the increase there would be a potential deficit across the next two years of between £6m and £7m.

"I have gone through the proposed budget in great detail with the chief constable and our respective chief finance officers, and feel I have no option but to propose the increase," he explained.

"In short, the government settlement for the next financial year does not give me confidence that we will be able to maintain policing services in the county over the coming years.

"Without some level of investment, the constabulary will simply not keep up with the increased demands placed upon it, and projections provided by the constabulary show without this increase we are heading towards a significant deficit in future years."

The proposed 5.2% increase would mean a household in a Band D property paying an extra 29p a week, and or an extra 22p a week for someone in a Band B property.

Passmore said the additional money would allow for investment in technology, which would help free up police time.

According to government figures for 2026-27, the force has been given £107m with an expectation that the police precept would go up by the maximum amount, resulting in a total annual budget of £192m.

Passmore will present his final proposal to the Suffolk police and crime panel on 30 January.

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