Risk of higher tax to pay for police
Jan 3 2008 by Liz Hands, The Journal
HOUSEHOLDERS could face higher council tax bills for policing and frontline numbers might be cut as forces receive disappointing funding, say officers.
Northumbria Police Federation issued the warning as the force chief constable predicted “difficult decisions” because of a 2.5% funding increase in a three-year settlement recently announced by the Government, while some other forces received 4%.
Chief constable Mike Craik said a rise in the police precept on council tax was under consideration and maintaining one of the lowest levies in the country was not sustainable.
The federation, which represents rank and file officers, said a modest precept increase might be needed to cope with rising demands, from neighbourhood work to fighting terrorism, possibly taking the overall council tax rise above 5%, which ministers have warned they may cap.
Northumbria federation chairman Russ Watson said the Government funding settlement would be insufficient to let the force maintain improvements.
He said: “We have continued to struggle within a precept [council tax] rise of below 5% for fear of capping by central Government. We have seen the lowest financial rise in the country over a period of time and because we are the lowest, it is time people started to wake up to the realities of funding and press for a modest increase bringing us up to the national average.”
He said: “That is my concern – that officer numbers will fall if there is no increase in the funding. It is a legitimate concern.”
Northumbria is one of 18 forces to receive the minimum rise. Mr Craik said: “This below-inflation rise will mean that difficult decisions will have to be made in order to maintain current levels of resources and improve performance.
“We are working closely with the police authority on how best to achieve this. One area under consideration is a rise to the current precept. Maintaining one of the lowest precepts in the country cannot be a sustainable position.”
Northumbria Police Authority chairman Coun Mick Henry said: “It is too early to say what the outcome of the budget will be – members of the police authority will look at the details in February, when any decisions on the precept will be made.
“Obviously we will take into account the views of the chief constable along with those of our financial advisers.” Berwick MP Alan Beith said: “Northumbria is a very successful police force and it needs the resources to continue doing its job.”
The Department for Communities and Local Government said it expected overall council tax rises to be “substantially” below 5% and would use capping powers if necessary to protect taxpayers.
The force’s financial strategy forecasts a funding gap of £3.644m in 2008/09 and £6.486m the following year, assuming an annual 2.7% funding settlement – although that could be higher if other funding changes are introduced.
Potential options for closing the gap include extra efficiencies, precept increases, reassessment of priorities, further use of reserves and external funding or increase in income.
The police authority will set its budget next month.
Mr Craik said: “We have reserves, but they are capital and we are committed to using them in the next few years.
“They can not be used for permanent salaries or to increase the numbers of police officers we will need now and in the long term to improve our neighbourhood policing and protective services.”
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Ill-gotten gains to be shared
Home Office Minister for Crime Reduction Vernon Coaker said constabularies in England and Wales would receive £4.4m from assets
seized between July and September last year.
The scheme allows police and recovery agencies to retain half of all cash they seize from criminals.
In the awards announced yesterday, Northumbria Police get £55,024, Durham £11,774, Cleveland £149,148 and Cumbria Constabulary £66,148.
Mr Coaker said: “Seizing money from criminals takes the profit out of crime and a share of it goes straight back to the police force that confiscated it to be spent on local crime-fighting priorities.
“In just three months the police and other agencies have recovered £30m from criminals.
“This is a tremendous achievement and I am grateful to the police and other partners for their hard work in confiscating criminal assets and disrupting criminal gangs.”
He said £15m would be shared among police, prosecution, customs and other public agencies.
The Association of Chief Police Officers spokesman on asset recovery, chief constable Mick Creedon, said: “The Proceeds of Crime Act has provided a significant opportunity for police forces and other law enforcement agencies to take the illegally gained assets from career criminals, who have previously benefited from their activities.”
