WEST Mercia Police and Crime Panel have confirmed they will be raising the council tax precept by an extra 29p per week.
This will mean an average Band D household will pay £246.50 a year.
Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion: “As your voice in policing, I have listened and shaped West Mercia Police’s budget and other crime prevention funding around your priorities.
“I am extremely proud that, despite the financial challenges we are facing, police officer numbers will reach an establishment level high in West Mercia.
“It has been a hard decision to increase the council tax precept, but I am committed to ensuring every penny is spent wisely and you the community feel the maximum benefit of that investment as your police force continues to deliver on the matters that mean the most to you.”
Chief Constable Pippa Mills said: “We will always strive to deliver the best service we can with the budget available to us. The investment announced today will support us as we continue to focus resources in the areas that have the most positive impact on communities.
“Just as the force is not immune to the country’s financial pressures, I know homes are feeling it too, so I understand the public will, quite rightly, want to see how their money is spent.
“Difficult decisions will have to be made this year, but we know that visibility of officers is important, and I’m pleased that this year we will have more police officers than we have had in recorded
West Mercia Police history, and we are investing more in neighbourhood policing.”
The PCC’s 2023/4 budget proposals will see £14.3m more funding available for policing, delivering the priorities of communities across West Mercia.
The budget will see 40 additional officers recruited to increase West Mercia numbers to the highest ever, which will enable new community crime fighting teams (totalling 55 officers) to be established.
