Residents in Dorset will see a small increase in their council tax to support local policing, after the county’s Police and Crime Panel approved a precept rise.
The change means an average Band D household will pay an extra fifteen pounds a year.
The decision follows a survey by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, in which seventy-four percent of respondents said Dorset Police needed additional funding. The majority of panel members supported the recommended proposal at Friday’s meeting.
Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said the rise was necessary following the government grant settlement and an outdated funding formula. He highlighted that, even with the increase, Dorset Police will still need to make significant savings. He added that crime is falling, knife crime is down, and anti-social behaviour is at its lowest in 16 years, but additional funding is essential to maintain services.
Chief Constable Amanda Pearson said the precept rise will help the Force continue reducing crime, supporting victims, and keeping the county safe, while emphasising further savings and difficult choices remain necessary.
Share us with your friends on social media, and have a listen to Bournemouth One online and on DAB for all your local news, traffic, jobs, weather, coastal info and more.
Register below for free regular updates via email.