Police bill to cost taxpayers up to £13 more a year

Police commissioner Kim McGuinness said the uplift was needed to "rescue" the force

The portion of council tax bills used to generate extra funds for Northumbria Police will increase by the maximum amount permitted.

Councillors have signed off on plans to increase the police precept for households in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland by up to £13 a year.

Labour's Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness warned a freeze would have resulted in the budget cuts of £4.2m.

Ros Munro, the Conservative candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner, opposed the increase.

The 7.7% precept rise, which is expected to generate an extra £5.4m, was signed off by members of the Northumbria Police and Crime Panel on Tuesday morning, following a three-week public consultation, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The increase equates to a rise of £13 per year for Band D homes, which is the maximum level allowed by the government, and £8.67 for Band A properties, which make up the largest share of homes in the Northumbria force area.

A report to the panel stated that, of almost 2,000 residents surveyed, 71% supported a rise in the precept and 62% were in favour of it increasing by the maximum amount.

'Financial struggles'

Ms McGuinness, who is also the Labour Party’s candidate for North East mayor, warned freezing the precept at its current level would have resulted in budget cuts of £4.2m, the equivalent of 113 job losses.

She pledged the extra cash would be used to explore the reopening of some police stations, to launch a region-wide unit dedicated to tackling anti-social behaviour involving motorbikes, and to hire more investigators.

“While I know the precept rise is the right decision, it’s a decision I make reluctantly especially as so many are facing their own financial struggles, particularly in our region," she said.

Opposition

There has been opposition to the proposed precept increase from the Conservative candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner, Ros Munro.

Ms Munro previously sent an objection letter to Ms McGuinness.

On Tuesday, she accused Ms McGuinness of failing to "properly hold Northumbria Police’s management to account".

"This most recent rise comes after a whopping 9.75% increase in the policing precept in 2023/24 ," she said.

Ms Munro submitted a petition with 170 signatures opposing the rise

Ms McGuinness said on Tuesday: “The option before us is either to make cuts worth 113 job losses at Northumbria Police or a small increase to allow us to save jobs and expand crime fighting squads.

"I’m proud to stand by those officers and to give them the resources today to fight crime tomorrow.”