Sussex Police precept to rise

The police precept is set to increase by around two per cent across Sussex in 2015/16.
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The increase in council tax means residents living in Band D properties will pay an additional £2.79 for policing per year per household.

Members of the Sussex Police and Crime Panel met on Friday January 23 and carried a majority vote in support of the proposal by police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne to increase the police precept by 1.98 per cent.

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The force said Sussex Police’s crime-fighting capabilities will be improved by the increase.

Mrs Bourne carried out a two month consultation with residents asking for their views on the proposed increase, which attracted over 2,600 responses.

Despite Sussex Police having to meet a savings target of £57m over the next four years the additional funding raised by increasing the precept ‘is not an attempt to plug the deficit following a reduced police grant settlement’, Mrs Bourne said.

She said: “The investment raised by increasing the police precept will, when added to the increase in 2014/15, secure an additional £1.6m in additional funding in 2015/16 and in future years.

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“I am delighted that the panel have taken on board residents’ views and supported this increase in the precept for the year ahead.”

The proposal follows a business case set out by the chief constable for additional investment to support operational demands including improving the force’s ability to tackle child sexual exploitation and respond to incidents of cybercrime.

A wholesale review of the way policing services are delivered in Sussex is currently underway to identify how it can meet the future savings requirement and ensure the force is fit to tackle the changing face of crime in the 21st century.