Peterborough council tax rise to support policing recommended
A panel have backed plans for more police funding
Cambridgeshire Police & Crime Panel has voted to support an increase in next year’s council tax.
Panel members voted unanimously to recommend a rise in the proposed policing element of the council tax precept for 2026-2027 during a meeting at Sand Martin House today (January 28).
The proposal – which was set out by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Darryl Preston – asked the panel to recommend an increase of 4.99% compared to 2025/26.
“I am requesting the maximum precept that I can in order that we have a balanced budget and in order that we don’t lose police officers,” Commissioner Preston told the panel.
Policing funding comes from two sources: just over half from central government, and the rest from the policing part of Council Tax (known as the precept).
Cambridgeshire Constabulary is currently the fourth lowest funded force (by total funding) in the country. The net total funding for Cambridgeshire for 2026/27 is provisionally £220.6m – an estimate based on the Commissioner increasing the precept by the full £15 on Band D properties.
This increase will see the policing element of Council Tax (Band D equivalent) rise from £299.43 per year in 2025/26 to £314.37 per year in 2026/27 – an increase of £14.94.
The Commissioner – who explained it was his belief that all other Police & Crime Commissioners across the country would be making requests to receive the maximum precept increase – had a stark warning for panel members.
“We have no choice – it’s that or you lose police officers,” he said, adding “and I don’t think that’s what the public want.”
He also reminded the panel that “It is my statutory responsibility to provide the resources to the Chief Constable to run an effective and efficient police force.”
In an unusual move, the Commissioner invited Chief Constable, Simon Megicks to attend the meeting and address the panel.
“This is fundamentally about balancing the books,” Mr Megicks said when asked to explain the necessity of a precept increase.
“Without it,” he said bluntly, “I’d be staring down the barrel of having to make £6m worth of savings.”
The Chief Constable said the increase in the policing element of council tax would allow him to maintain officer numbers, invest in technologies, and put him in a better position to deal with the “ill-defined challenges” of an uncertain future.
Commissioner Preston said he believed most law-abiding citizens would support the increase in precept funding:
“Most people will be supportive of paying more for policing,” he said, “as long as they get the service that they expect.”
Without the precept increase, he asserted, his Chief Constable would be “unable to give the service that they expect.”