Neighbourhood policing and crime prevention top Thames Valley residents' priorities
Survey reveals how the public want Council Tax contributions spent
Neighbourhood policing and crime prevention have been identified as the top priorities by Thames Valley residents for the local police budget.
The survey results come as Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber announced an approximate £15 annual Council Tax increase for policing based on Band D properties, contributing almost half of Thames Valley Police’s £622m budget for 2026/27.
Over 4,800 people participated in a survey, which ran from 4th January 2025 to 2nd January 2026, to share their views on what matters most for investment in the upcoming financial year.
Increasing uniformed visibility through neighbourhood policing emerged as the top concern, with 3,019 residents selecting it as their priority.
Crime prevention ranked second, with 2,479 responses highlighting the importance of supporting community-level efforts to prevent neighbourhood crime.
The public also emphasised the need for more investment in tackling drug offences (2,476 responses) and improving road safety measures, with 2,417 people supporting spending in areas like roads policing and initiatives such as community speedwatch.
Other priorities highlighted in the survey included improving police response times, backed by 2,335 participants, and enhancing the quality of investigations, supported by 2,330 respondents.
Funding to tackle violence against women and girls was also a key area, with 2,225 responses calling for specific investments to address the issue.
Serious and organised crime was another area frequently selected, with 2,201 respondents recognising the need for resources to address threats such as drug markets, fraud, and modern slavery.
Matthew Barber said: "Residents rightly expect an exceptional service from Thames Valley Police, and my role is to ensure that this year’s policing budget can deliver this by addressing local concerns and priorities and achieving value for money for taxpayers."