Plea for police commissioner to ditch tax hike

PARISH councillors in a dale village have urged Durham’s police and crime commissioner to follow their example and not hit taxpayers in the pocket.
Members of Startforth Parish Council agreed not to increase the amount paid by residents for grassroots services in the next financial year. It means those living in a band D property will continue to pay £42.51 towards the cost of the parish council.
Later in the meeting, councillors were asked for their views on proposals by acting Durham Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner Steve White to add £15 to council tax bills – a seven per cent increase and the maximum he is allowed.
Cllr Chris Carr pointed out: “Durham Police said they are the most efficient police force in the UK – why do they need more money?”
He said if the council could manage the difficult task of managing its finances in difficult times for residents, why couldn’t larger bodies, such as the police do the same.
“With the virus, people are finding it more difficult to pay for services.”
Chairman Cllr Pat Estall agreed, adding: “With all the others that are going to be putting their rates up, the amount of money paid per household could be quite sizeable.
“In this economic situation, we should say they [the police] might consider maintaining what they had last year and not increasing.”
Cllr Peter Worley added: “I don’t agree with it full stop.”
Cllr Carr said if any increase in policing costs was unavoidable, it should be kept to “the bare minimum” .
He added: “Think about people who will be finding it difficult to pay for services, particularly those not in employment due to Covid.”
Members agreed to write to the acting police and crime commissioner urging him to think again, abandon plans for the £15 rise and keep any increase in line with inflation.
Mr White said the increase he was proposing would help in a number of ways, such as keeping more officers on the streets, tackling “county lines” crime and investing in new technology.
He said: “I recognise how tough this year has been on everyone within the community and how difficult individuals’ financial circumstances have become, however, policing is an essential service that will help us keep our communities safe. Our police force has faced their own challenges and worked extremely hard to set new regulations this year in order to keep people safe during the pandemic. An increase will also mean we can continue to deliver an effective and efficient police force and maintain the highest standard of policing with more officers on the streets protecting the community.”
Anyone wishing to have their say on the crime commissioner’s proposals can do so by taking part in a survey he has set up which runs until January 31.
Go to www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/967C3F9.