Durham residents will see a police tax rise. This will fund officer numbers and community safety across the region.
Joy Allen is the Police and Crime Commissioner. She proposed this change. Band A properties will pay £9.33 more per year, while Band H properties will pay up to £28 more.
This extra money protects police officer numbers. 1,379 officers remain until at least April 2026. PCSOs will still patrol and tackle drink, drugs, and antisocial behavior.
Rachel Bacon is the Chief Constable. She noted improved police performance but said budgets are still tight. It is a challenging time for policing now.
Bacon warned about potential police cuts. She is dedicated to community safety and spoke to councillors about this, wanting to maintain police numbers.
Allen wants the funding formula revised, calling for more money for high-need areas. A 1% rise gives Durham £490,000, compared to North Yorkshire’s £970,000 and Surrey’s £1.7 million.
Councillor David Boyes is worried about Durham’s funding, calling the situation shocking. He said they need more funds but agreed to the precept increase.
Councillor Lucy Hovvels sees the financial arrangement as unsustainable. She wished they did not need to raise the precept, but stated they have no choice.
Durham Constabulary has fewer officers than in 2010. Councillor Ken Robson understands the financial issues and wants more visible police on the streets.
