Police seek 4pc extra in council tax (From Durham Times)

Police seek 4pc extra in council tax

1:29pm Friday 26th February 2010

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PEOPLE in the region will pay four per cent more for their police force from April.

Durham Police Authority, the parent body of Durham Police approved a 3.99 per cent rise in its council tax levy on Wednesday.

Its overall budget will rise by 2.9 per cent to £122.93m, but taxpayers face a steeper tax hike because the Government’s annual police grant will rise by only 2.5 per cent.

Last year, Durham Police Authority approved a 3.5 per cent rise.

Peter Thompson, chairman of Durham Police Authority, said it carried out a great deal of public consultation before the decision was taken.

He said: “They did not wish front-line services to be reduced and they were prepared to accept an increase of up to five per cent.”

Durham Police found itself at the centre of a row last month after Liberal Democrats claimed the force had lost 193 officers since 2005. This week, Mr Thompson released figures showing the number of police officers had fallen by 205 since 2005, but there were 105 more Police Community Support Officers and 230 extra police staff, meaning the workforce has risen by 130, to 2,670.

Despite the drop in officers, he insisted there was no reduction in front-line policing.

Durham County Council will set its council tax levy today. The Labour-run council’s cabinet has recommended a 1.9 per cent increase.

Liberal Democrat and Conservative groups have called for a zero per cent rise.

Tory councillor Barbara Harrison said the council had not looked hard enough at savings – the Conservatives having identified £1m of savings.

The County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority has agreed a 2.85 per cent rise.

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