Police council tax payments to rise by 4.5% for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire residents

The increase will see residents in Band D properties pay an £10 a year following a decision made by the county’s Police and Crime Panel on Thursday, although the precepts for local authorities and the fire service are also set to rise.

Acting police and crime commissioner Ray Bisby said: “The past year has brought many challenges,, however, I am sure you will agree that we have a fantastic police force in Cambridgeshire working hard to tackle the issues we all care about.

“As Acting PCC it’s my duty to set the amount people pay towards policing in their council tax. In doing so, I need to understand the financial and operational challenges of the constabulary as well as the views of the public about supporting police funding.”

Ahead of the confirmed rise Mr Bisby, who is also a Conservative city councillor for Stanground South in Peterborough, held a public survey which ran from January 8 to 27.

The acting chief said: “In my survey I stressed that in setting the proposed precept I would follow government guidance once it was published. The government funding settlement, which was delayed due to the December General Election, included an expectation that PCCs would increase local precepts by £10.

“The central funding for Cambridgeshire is dependent on an additional 62 officers being recruited by March 2021 as part of the government’s 20,000 new officer programme.

“Additionally, with our county’s population set to rise by 20 per cent by 2031 I need to ensure the Chief Constable has the resources he needs to police the county, not just this year but in the years ahead.”

More than 1,197 people responded to the survey online.

Mr Bisby added: “I would like to thank all those who took the time to respond to my survey and to speak to me in the various locations I visited over the last four weeks.

“The government funding settlement together with the precept increase is a great opportunity for me to ensure the constabulary is properly equipped to keep our growing communities safe.”