Police Precept Consultation

The Mayor of West Yorkshire is responsible for setting the annual budget for West Yorkshire Police. This includes agreeing the local 'police precept' - the part of the Council Tax that helps to fund local policing.

A public consultation is now taking place asking for views on the precept level.

Have your say

Every part of the country relies on funding gathered through Council Tax payments to support their local police force.

The cost of the police precept in West Yorkshire is actually the fourth lowest in England and Wales, but it still provides 28% of West Yorkshire Police’s total net annual budget, with almost all of the remainder coming from central government funding.

Last year, through your support, West Yorkshire Police were able to invest in recruiting and training 345 new police officers to support policing across our districts.

We were also able to achieve better criminal justice outcomes for the victims of crime by investing in West Yorkshire Police’s Witness Care Team.

It has also enabled the Force to pursue the perpetrators of abuse through investment in the West Yorkshire Police Abusive Images Unit and Digital Forensic Unit.

In addition, it has helped to build on the work to tackle serious violence in our communities in conjunction with West Yorkshire Police and the Violence Reduction Unit.

We want to see West Yorkshire Police continue this work with the funding needed to sustain it during a time of acute cost increases.

Since 2010, core government funding provided to West Yorkshire Police has been cut by 17% and our Mayor has written to the Home Office calling for sustainable funding.

We have also written to the Government to ask for additional funding to freeze the level of the precept. In both cases, the Government has not supported us.

Funding gained through the police precept will help us to maintain the just, safe, and inclusive police service we need. Without this support, we fill face severe pressure on the police budget.

Each year, the majority of people who respond to our Council Tax precept consultation tell us they support further investment in policing. This support has helped West Yorkshire Police to develop to become one of the most efficient and effective police forces in England and Wales.

The consultation will run until midnight on 15th January 2023.  Please have your say.

Precept focus groups

Precept focus groups are taking place across West Yorkshire. A schedule of the events is linked below and you can register to attend the one that suits you best.

To register, please complete the below form and return to us via email at consultation.pc@westyorks-ca.gov.uk.

The form includes monitoring questions which will help us ensure our groups are inclusive.

If you were involved in a focus group W/C 12/12/22 you will be contacted separately.

Focus Group Schedule and Equalities Monitoring Form (Word 67KB)