North Wales council taxpayers urged to share views on policing costs

How much the public will pay towards policing in the next financial year is the focus of a survey from North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Andy Dunbobbin launching today and running until 20 December. The PCC is asking the people of the region to say how much money they are prepared to pay for the work the police do to keep our neighbourhoods safe through the precept levied on their Council Tax.

Around half the money for the police budget in North Wales comes from the UK Government and the rest comes from Council Tax. The amount people pay in their Council Tax depends on the precept levied by Police and Crime Commissioners.

People will be able to give their view in the form of an online or paper questionnaire that should take no more than two minutes to complete. There are three key questions on the options for the amount spent on policing, as well as what priorities people want to see North Wales Police concentrate on.  

Following the closing of the survey, the results will be studied and Andy Dunbobbin will make a proposal on the level of precept to the Police and Crime Panel at a meeting on 27 January 2025. The amount paid by people will then change in April, at the start of the coming financial year 2025/26.

Since 2010, as part of its commitment to offer the best possible value to the people of North Wales, North Wales Police has already made savings that are worth £45 million per year. But it is likely a Council Tax increase of £23 (or 44p per week) in the precept is needed to create a standstill budget for the coming year, with no cuts. There is no option in the survey for no increase in Council Tax as there is a requirement in law to set a balanced budget for policing, which means an increase of some kind must happen.

However, Andy Dunbobbin is conscious of current pressures on household budgets and is keen to know what level of council tax increase residents would support through his survey.

The Commissioner commented: “I would urge everyone who pays Council Tax or Business Rates to take part in my survey. A well-funded police force is better equipped to face the pressures we see today in terms of crime and I pledge that I will hold the Chief Constable and the force to account to ensure the money you pay is invested effectively and with the welfare and service of the people of North Wales at heart.

“I also know that many people have taken part in other consultations of mine this year, such as on my Police and Crime Plan, as well as voting in the various elections we have seen in 2024. However, I want everyone’s voice to be heard in my precept survey, as everybody’s voice counts. We are living in difficult economic times and I know any increase, however small, will be difficult for many people to countenance. With this in mind, if you find it difficult to afford to pay your Council Tax bill, help may be available. I would urge anyone experiencing this to contact their billing authority for details of any discounts they may be eligible for, or for information about their Council Tax reduction scheme.”

As well as funding the Police Service, the money raised via Council Tax also enables the PCC to fund services across North Wales. These Commissioned Services do valuable work within the community to support victims of crime and support offenders to reduce re-offending. Examples of these services include DASU and RASASC, which provide support to victims of domestic abuse and violence against women and girls, and Checkpoint Cymru, which aims to tackle underlying causes of offending behaviour such as mental health and substance misuse and to provide a credible alternative to prosecution.

The Commissioner has four main duties. They are to set the priorities for policing in North Wales through the Police and Crime Plan; to decide the budget for North Wales Police, which involves setting the recommended precept level for the approval of the Police and Crime Panel; to listen and respond to the public’s views on policing; and to hold the Chief Constable to account for the performance of the Force.

The PCC’s survey is fully bilingual in Welsh and English (as well as Easy Read), and print copies are available at libraries and police stations across North Wales. Residents can also email or write to request a copy to be sent to them. Representatives of the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner will also be at locations across North Wales throughout the survey period engaging with people in person to complete the survey.

The consultation launches on 25 November 2024 and closes on the 20 December 2024.