Council tax increase of £4 a year proposed by Northamptonshire's Police and Crime Commissioner

Council tax in Northamptonshire could increase by £4 this year after the county's police and crime commissioner proposed a rise of 1.99 per cent.
Police and crime commissioner Adam Simmonds pictured at Police HQ, Wootton Hall. ENGNNL00120141002112052Police and crime commissioner Adam Simmonds pictured at Police HQ, Wootton Hall. ENGNNL00120141002112052
Police and crime commissioner Adam Simmonds pictured at Police HQ, Wootton Hall. ENGNNL00120141002112052

Adam Simmonds, who will not be standing for re-election in May, has proposed a increase in the policing council tax precept to make an extra £910,000 available for the force.

The council tax rise, which has to be approved by the Police and Crime Panel, is just below the two per cent threshold which triggers a public referendum.

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The commissioner said the extra money would help make up for a reduction of £386,000 in central government funding in the 2015-16 financial year.

Mr Simmonds said he was committed to maintaining the number of police officers at 1,220 and believed he would hit his target of having 900 Special Constables by May. The Special Constabulary currently totals 636.

He said: “I am as passionate now about making Northamptonshire the safest place in England and creating the safest generation I have ever seen. This is why I am proposing this budget, a budget that once again protects the number of frontline officers in Northamptonshire and pledges more resources than ever to protecting children and supporting victims of crime.

“I have listened to the people of Northamptonshire and police numbers are extremely important to people in the county. With this budget we will continue to be one of only a handful of forces that have protected frontline officer numbers when spending has had to be cut, while we will continue to support over 2,000 warranted officers with the growth of the Special Constabulary.”

Mr Simmonds said the recently announced “strategic alliance” with Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire police would deliver significant savings for Northamptonshire in the next five years.