Kent PCC Matthew Scott seeks to increase council tax precept

Matthew Scott says a council tax increase is the only way to avoid further cuts to the police budget

Kent's police and crime commissioner wants to increase his share of the council tax by 5.34% in the financial year 2024/25.

Matthew Scott said without the increase the police would have to find another £11m in savings, on top of those he had already identified.

He has also promised to crackdown on anti-social behaviour through two new Home Office schemes.

The budget will be discussed at the Police and Crime Panel on 6 February.

The increase will see an average Band D property paying £256.15p of its annual council tax towards policing in the county, an increase of £13.

Mr Scott said: "I do not ask for this rise lightly and I do so because it is needed to help balance the budget.

"If I did not ask for this, we would need to find another £11m on top of what we already need to save."

Mr Scott said he had secured Home Office funding for two new projects.

There will be be £932,000 for extra patrols in known drug and anti-social behaviour hot spots and, from October, £500,000 will be spent on what is being termed "immediate justice".

This will see anyone committing an offence of anti-social behaviour being forced to undertake some payback to the community within 48 hours.

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