Commissioner proposes £15 a year increase to maintain Hertfordshire's largest ever police force 

Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd is proposing to support record officer numbers in Hertfordshire with an average £15 a year Council Tax increase. 

The additional money will ensure a that strong neighbourhood policing and response service is maintained following the public's demand to see more police officers on the street.  

They are being used to tackle public crime concerns, including burglary, cybercrime and violence against women and girls. 

My Lloyd's planned below inflation increase will enable the constabulary to meet the cost increases of running a larger service, and the added pressures of rising wage and fuel costs. 

One of the roles of a PCC is to consult with the public before setting the precept, which is the part of the Council Tax that pays for police services. 

For the 2023/24 budget, residents are being asked to share their views on increasing the annual precept, for an average Band D property, from £223 to £238. This equates to a 28p a week increase, with those in other Bandings paying either more or less according to property value. 

Even after the planned increase Hertfordshire's precept is set to remain one of the lowest in England and Wales.  

Running Hertfordshire Police is expected to cost £271.6m in the next financial year from 2023/24. This is funded by a combination of £142.2m from central government, £111m from the Council Tax and an additional £18.4m in fees, charges and other grants. Together they would represent an increase of £11m in the police budget, a rise of four per cent. The proposed average £15 a year increase would raise an additional £7m locally. 

Mr Lloyd said: "I recognise that many people are currently facing tough financial times due to increases in the cost of living. Policing is not immune from these pressures, particularly in relation to wage and energy costs. 

"That is why this year I am proposing to increase the precept below inflation. Keeping council tax low has been one of my overriding ambitions as your Commissioner. I am determined to maintain the legacy that you pay one of the lowest contributions in the country. 

"Hertfordshire now has more officers that it has ever had in its history. A three-year period of investment has enabled the number of frontline officers to keep increasing. By the end of April 2023, the constabulary are on target to have over 2,350 officers in post, which will be 300 more officers than we had in 2019. 

"This landmark was achieved because in previous consultations you overwhelmingly told me that you wanted more officers on the streets. Now this is being delivered I want to ensure that this record-breaking force is maintained and fully supported. 

Mr Lloyd added: "Before I take any decisions on the budget, I want to understand from the people of Hertfordshire about what they feel the local priorities should be." 

Now Mr Lloyd wants to hear the public views on his proposal. A survey opens today (Thursday) December 22 and will run until January 15 2023, it can be accessed here https://bit.ly/policeprecept. 

If you would like to comment in writing, please email [email protected] or by sending a letter to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, 13 Vaughan Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 4GZ.