Have your say about proposed increase in police element of council tax

Greater Manchester residents face a 3.3% increase in the police element of their council tax bill. The proposed increase would see the police element of the average council tax bill rise from £152.30 to £157.30.

Greater Manchester Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd said: “Since 2010 we have lost 2,000 police officers and 1,000 police staff. By the end of March this year, there will be just 6,100 police officers protecting our homes and streets. This is set against a backdrop of rising crime and an increased demand in policing now made worse by cuts to other public agencies.

“Even the Government has now recognised that they have gone too far in terms of police cuts and have, quite rightly, pledged not to cut policing budgets for 2016/2017. But their calculations were based on the assumption that the people of Greater Manchester would pay more through their council tax. If we don’t do this, we will have to cut even more from frontline policing, and people tell me that they want to see a strong and viable police service in Greater Manchester, so I really have no other realistic option than to propose this increase.

“While the proposed increase in council tax will buy us some desperately needed breathing space, it would be wrong for me to understate the challenge ahead: even with these measures in place, we still have to make savings of over £70m over the next three years.”

Recorded crime in Greater Manchester has risen 13% in the last 12 months, and demand on policing services is increasing. The proposed increase will raise £3.5m – equivalent to 70 police officers.

Tony added: “No one wants to have to pay more, but I believe if we share this burden between us – just an extra 10p per week – we can all contribute towards keeping our neighbourhoods safer.

“I would stress that despite this increase, the police element of your council tax bill is still amongst the lowest in the country.”

Have your say at:

www.gmpcc.org.uk/counciltax