Views sought on West Yorkshire Police funding for the year ahead
People are being given the chance to share their views on next year’s budget for West Yorkshire Police.
21 December 2023
People are being given the chance to share their views on next year’s budget for West Yorkshire Police.
A new survey has been launched about the level of the local 'police precept' for 2024/25 - the part of people’s Council Tax bills that helps to fund policing in West Yorkshire.
Share your views
Police forces in England and Wales rely on funding collected locally as a small portion of Council Tax. Views are being sought on a small increase to this funding, which would equate to between an extra 17p and 22p per week for the majority of the county’s households who are in Council Tax Bands A to C.
This would be invested in recruiting more PCSOs and Initial Contact Officers, who answer emergency and non-emergency calls from the public. These extra resources will support the 750 additional police officers and staff that have joined the frontline during the West Yorkshire Mayor’s first term in office.
Bills have been kept down in West Yorkshire, which despite having the fourth largest force, has the fourth lowest precept level in England and Wales.
Without raising funds in this way, the expectation is West Yorkshire Police would need to cut costs across its operations, meaning difficult choices about which services it focuses on and what will need to be cut.
Alison Lowe OBE, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, said: “We want to create a safer, fairer region and a properly funded police service is crucial to that.
“I will continue to lobby the Government for sustainable funding for our Police Service despite their continued failure to do so.
“I’m keen to hear your views on the budget to inform these important decisions.”
The police precept accounts for less than a quarter of West Yorkshire Police’s funding with almost all the remaining coming from central Government. However, since 2010, the Government have reduced this funding which has left West Yorkshire as one of a few forces nationally to face funding reductions greater than 10% in real terms.
To complete the survey, visit the YourVoice website before midnight on 17th January 2024.
A recommendation for the precept level will go before the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel for approval in early February.