Council Tax police precept rockets 22% in two years but gives us 53 fewer officers

Lib Dem policing spokesperson, Councillor Simon Shaw, has warned that the amount local council tax payers are having to pay towards Merseyside Police is rising by a staggering 22% in just two years.  But does it mean more bobbies on the beat? Sadly the answer is no.

Two years ago, in 2017/18, the local police precept was £166 for a band D property.  Merseyside’s Labour Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy has just announced that she is proposing to increase this to £202 in 2019/20, an increase of £36 or 21.7% in two years.

Birkdale councillor Simon Shaw is deputy Leader of the Sefton Council Lib Dem Group and is also a member of the Police & Crime Panel.  The Panel meets on Tuesday 5th February to consider whether to endorse or veto the proposed increase.

Councillor Shaw was concerned about the massive proposed council tax rise and asked for details of how many extra Merseyside police officers will be provided as a result.

“The shocking answer I was given is that there will actually be 53 fewer officers at March 2020 compared to two years earlier,” says Cllr Shaw.

“It really is a case of ‘Pay more, get less’.  The figures I managed to obtain from the Police Commissioner’s Office reveal that there are budgeted to be 2 fewer police officers and 51 fewer PCSOs over the 24 months.  I think many local residents were expecting an increase in front line police officers for all the extra council tax they are being asked to pay.”

“At the same time the number of police staff is projected to increase by 75.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as there many jobs that don’t need to be done by skilled, and also expensive, police officers.”

“But what residents in many cases think they will get will be ‘more bobbies on the beat’.  I just don’t see that happening.  The best that can be said is that the very large reduction in police numbers seen in recent years is leveling out.  But at what cost?  Nearly 22% extra council tax in just two years.”

As to who is to blame, Councillor Shaw places the blame firmly at the door of the Government.

“What the Conservatives have done is claimed they are providing more money for policing but they have simply loaded the burden onto the Council Tax Police Precept.  A £12 increase last year; £24 this year.  What is it going to be next year?  Another £24, or maybe even more?”