Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw is seeking the views of local residents ahead of setting the police budget for the next financial year.

Running Lancashire Constabulary costs over £300m a year, with almost 72 per cent of this coming from Central Government funding, and the remainder being raised by the policing element of Council Tax bills.

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Following the government’s recent announcement on police funding, PCCs are expected to use the maximum flexibility to raise the council tax precept equating to a £15 a year/29p a week increase for a band D property to deliver the government’s uplift programme which promises extra officers for the county.

The Commissioner is keen to learn the public’s views on his proposal to invest the majority of the money raised through the precept into neighbourhood policing and to find out which policing issues are most important to local residents.

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Mr. Grunshaw said: “This has been a challenging year for the country and for Lancashire residents but it has also highlighted the need for properly funded policing in times of crisis.

“Despite having saved over £86m from the police budget since 2010 already, the government leaves Police and Crime Commissioners no choice but to increase the council tax precept to make the investments necessary. Not doing so would force further savings that could reduce the level of service we are able to provide across Lancashire.

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“With Lancashire Constabulary having been rated as outstanding for efficiency in the use of their resources by HMICFRS, residents can be assured that any investment made will be maximised to achieve the best possible outcome for Lancashire.

“With this in mind I would like to invite Lancashire residents to share their views on the budget proposal for 2021/22 and local policing priorities by completing the survey on my website.”

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“My commitment is to ensure that tax payers will see genuine improvements to local policing and increased officer numbers as a result. I will continue to lobby the government to provide fair funding for Lancashire without asking local council tax payers to foot the bill.”

The Police and Crime Commissioner’s survey is now available here.

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Paper copies can be requested by contacting the Commissioner’s office via email, telephone or through the website.

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