What are your thoughts on paying for policing in Essex? Do you want more investment in the police service and are you willing to pay more Council Tax to provide it? How do you want to #MakeADifference? We want to know your views.
Our Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst, wants your opinion before he sets out plans for the 2020/2021 policing budget for the county. You can fill in a survey
here to have your say.
Roger said: “Funding for Essex Police comes from two sources, central Government and local Council Tax. Taking these two funding sources into account Essex Police receives the second lowest funding per resident of any police force in the country and has one of the lowest Council Tax precepts for policing.
“Over the last two years we carried out surveys asking you whether or not you would pay more to increase investment in policing in Essex.
“Last year, 4187 people completed the survey. Seventy-one per cent of the people who responded said they would be prepared to invest more in policing to help improve the service provided. As a result, we increased the policing element of Council Tax by £24 a year for the average household. The maximum permitted by the Government without a referendum.
“This extra investment is making a difference in Essex, helping us deliver an extra 368 officers, including:
