Devon council tax rises will fund increase in police funding
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez says the increase will help fund neighbourhood policing and victim support services.
Council tax payers in Devon are set to pay more to help fund policing, after the maximum allowed rise was approved.
The Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel has agreed to a five-point-two percent rise, which is around fifteen pounds a year for a Band D household.
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez says the increase will help fund neighbourhood policing and victim support services: "There is some good news actually, we have got the highest number of police officers and it maintains that number of 3,610. We are getting more Police Community Support Officers because the government is giving us an additional grant separately to the budget."
Critics on the panel say councils are being forced to raise taxes just to maintain basic services.
Alison Hernandez says funding pressures mean the force is facing the equivalent loss of forty-seven officers, despite the increase: "Well, sadly I've always made a promise if I increase council tax on the police precept, that if people pay more, they get more. I've always promised they'll get an investment, and sadly this year I'm going to the maximum allowed by the government of fifteen pounds on a Band D property. And you're not going to get more, I'm afraid."