Policing element of council tax to increase by up to £10

The 2021/22 policing element of council tax will increase by a maximum of £10 after approval was granted by The Greater Manchester Police, Crime and Fire Panel on Friday (29 January).

The policing precept is the amount you contribute to local policing (and fire services) through your council tax bill. It is not set by the local authority, unlike council tax.

Following a consultation to raise the precept by a maximum of £15 for a Band D household, the actual increase that has been approved will be a maximum of £10 for a Band D house.
 

Read more: Police element of council tax could rise by up to £15 for 2021/22Published: 20 January 2021

The increase of £10 per year per Band D household equates to 19p per week.

For a Band B properties, the increase is £7.77 per year or 15p per week.

The latest increase is expected to bring 300 officers back to the force, which has lost around 2,000 officers since 2010 due to government cuts.

Chair of the Greater Manchester Police, Crime and Fire Panel, Councillor Nigel Murphy, said: “The panel has agreed to the Mayor’s proposal to increase the police element of the Greater Manchester council tax by £10 per year per Band D household. In doing so however, the panel is disappointed that instead of fairly funding the police directly, the Government continues to expect an increase to residents’ council tax bills, this time by £15 per Band D household, despite the inequalities and unfairness of the system.

“This is especially disturbing at a time of such uncertainty when residents across Greater Manchester are worried about the future of their jobs and how they make ends meet. Increasing the precept by £10 still leaves a £3.8m reduction in funding for police for this year and in future years, and I call upon central Government to properly fund Greater Manchester Police.

“We acknowledge that last year’s increase in precept delivered continued investment in neighbourhood policing including a named and contactable Neighbourhood Beat Officer and Police Community Support Officer for each ward in Greater Manchester.

“In addition, GMP is introducing a full-time school liaison officer in schools across Greater Manchester that request it and that are in the greatest need. Investment has been made in an online crime reporting system alongside improvements to the telephone system that has seen an improvements in the 101 service.

“We welcome the continued support given to Community Safety Partnerships and voluntary sector organisations, providing them with additional resources to tackle issues on a local basis, including anti-social behaviour, support for victims of domestic and sexual abuse, and work on reducing offending and re-offending.

“It is also important to state that we recognise the hard work and commitment of frontline police officers and GMP staff who work in challenging and complex conditions.

“The Police, Fire and Crime Panel is here to represent the public of Greater Manchester and we are grateful to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the decisive actions taken in recent weeks and months to drive forwards improvements within Greater Manchester Police. We believe that by working together with GMP, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and localities, we can deliver a better future for Greater Manchester Police and for the public.”

Since 2018, the precept has helped fund an additional 667 police officers, 40 extra call handlers, investment in automated telephone systems for the non-emergency 101 service, clothing, footwear, training and equipment, including mobile applications for frontline officers allowing them to spend more time dealing with the public and resolving incidents, and new digital interview recording equipment.