Press release from the PCC: Extra is needed for continued investment in policing – how much would you be prepared to pay?

Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner is asking all residents to use their voice and identify how much extra they would be prepared to pay for policing – and why.

PCC Philip’s Wilkinson’s annual Use Your Voice: Budget and Precept survey seeks the views of residents and stakeholders as the budget for policing and commissioned services for the next financial year (2025/6) is developed.

Respondents are asked whether their household would be prepared to invest more in policing through the police precept element of their council tax.

This, alongside a grant from the government, accounts for the entire budget for policing in the county. As it stands, due to the national police funding formula, Wiltshire Police is the third lowest funded police force in the country per head of capita.

A Band D household currently pays £269 per year for policing and Mr Wilkinson is looking at options to increase this by just over 5% – £14 per year extra, or an additional £1.16 a month. This is the most that can be asked for without a Local Referendum.

The survey runs until Friday 31 January 2025 and is available here