Merseyside: Council tax to rise to cover policing costs

The plans are set to be signed off on 14 February

Households in Merseyside face paying more towards the cost of policing to help plug a £8.5m funding gap.

Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said she had been left with "no alternative" but to add to council tax bills from April.

She blamed the government and said about £5.2m of reserve cash would also have to go towards plugging the shortfall.

The Home Office said Merseyside Police funding was up 6.5% this year.

"The stark reality is that central government are simply not providing enough money for policing on Merseyside," Mrs Spurrell said.

Chief Constable Serena Kennedy is set to make about £3.3m of cuts.

Over the next four years, the force must save about £22m.

Mrs Spurrell warned more cuts could follow if funding did not increase.

Mrs Spurrell said Merseyside Police had to have to find £8.5m savings this year

The plans were put before the Police and Crime Panel on Wednesday and are expected to be signed off on 14 February.

A Home Office spokesman said the government was "giving the police the resources they need to tackle crime, and through our police recruitment campaign we have fulfilled our commitment to recruit 20,000 additional police officers".

The spokesman added Merseyside's Police's funding would be up to £452.2m in 2024-25, an increase of about £27.6m when compared with the previous year.

"It is up to police and crime commissioners to determine how to allocate resources," the spokesman added.