Wiltshire Police facing extra funding shortfall of £4 million
That's despite the PCC asking for the Council Tax precept to go up the maximum amount this year
Last updated 9th Jan 2025
Wiltshire Police is facing a funding shortfall of £4million, despite Council Tax precept going up by the maximum amount.
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Philip Wilkinson has requested the rise of £14 per year for a Band D household to keep improving the Force.
Due to the national police funding formula, Wiltshire Police is the one of the lowest funded police forces in the country per head of capita.
The PCC told Greatest Hits Radio, he wishes he didn't have to raise the precept, but he has no other choice.
"I have no option sadly, other than to ask for the maximum amount even when I take that maximum amount, I'm still going to be short of my budget by £4million," he said.
This is despite Government settlement increases being increased by 6.4%, roughly £5.6 million for Wiltshire, but the PCC says new legislations have brought higher bills.
Mr Wilkinson said: "I now have to pay £370,000 a year to kennel dangerous dogs because of the Dangerous dog act, and then there is all the normal wear and tear that you know vehicles it that I have to pay for."
He told us that without raising the precept the maximum amount, he'd have been £6 million short.
'We will make every penny count'
Despite the funding gap, the PCC and Chief Constable Catherine Roper are adamant that staff won't be sacrificed in order to make ends meet.
The PCC said Wiltshire Police, which was taken out of special measures and the ENGAGE process in 2024, is on a 'very positive' journey of improvement, something both he and the Chief want to continue.
"I'm still going to have to make further efficiencies in Wiltshire Police force to cope. Can we do that without reducing officer numbers? We will make sure we do."
Mr Wilkinson says he will do everything he can to make every pound spent is spent wisely.
"I wish I didn't have put up the precept, but I do because of the lack of funding we're getting from the central government," he said, adding: "the Chief Constable and I, working as a tight team, will continue the improvements that we're making, and deliver value for money."
However, the PCC hasn't ruled out a local referendum to ask to the precept to be raise by MORE than the 5% it can be without one.
Mr Wilkinson said: "I will have to present my medium term financial strategy, which will be for three to four years to the police and crime panel and holding a referendum is something that we might have to discuss,in extremis.
"If we find we cannot cope, then I might have to do that."
A survey has been created for us to share our feedback on the PCC's proposed increase to Council Tax precept.