Have your say on proposed £18-a-year rise in policing precept in North Wales

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin, is asking residents to make their voice heard on how much money they are prepared to pay for policing as part of a public consultation and survey.

As well as having their say on changes to the amount spent on policing, people living in the region will be able to say what priorities they want to see North Wales Police act on.

The survey will also give them the chance to comment on how they see policing in their own community more generally.

The poll can be filled in online and paper copies of the survey, in Welsh and English, are also available at libraries, police stations and some leisure centres across North Wales.

Around half the money for the police budget in North Wales comes from the UK Government and the rest comes from council tax. The amount depends on the precept levied by police and crime commissioners.

Mr Dunbobbin will make the proposal to the region’s police and crime panel to set the level of precept at a meeting on January 30, 2023.

Last year, the panel agreed to a 3.68% per cent rise, which equated to an £11.25 per year increase in the cost of council tax.

This year, a 5.68% increase, which works out at 35 pence per week (or £18 per year), could enable the commissioner to present a balanced budget and to continue to fund the services that exist at present, with no cuts entailed.

The commissioner has four main duties. They are to set the priorities for policing in North Wales through a police and crime plan; to decide the budget for North Wales Police, which involves setting the recommended precept level for the approval of the police and crime panel; to listen and respond to the public’s views on policing; and to hold the chief constable to account for the performance of the force.

Through the money raised via council tax, the commissioner also provides funding to services across North Wales.

The commissioned services work within the community to support victims of crime and support offenders to reduce re-offending.

Examples of these services include Checkpoint Cymru, which aims to tackle underlying causes of offending behaviour such as mental health and substance misuse and to provide a credible alternative to prosecution.

Mr Dunbobbin is hoping to raise enough money with the precept to help North Wales Police deal with the increase in demand for services caused by the cost-of-living crisis and the continued aftermath of the pandemic, but he is also conscious of the pressures faced by households in the region.

The commissioner said: “I know how hard the past year has been for people and communities across North Wales and we’re all looking towards 2023 with concern about what the future might hold for our friends, families and the pound in our pocket.

“But effective and visible policing is at the heart of a safe and secure home and neighbourhood, and it is vital that we continue to fund it as best we can.

“We have identified where savings can be made in the way North Wales Police operates and we’re asking the people of North Wales to help us to help them by filling in the survey and letting us know how much they are willing to pay to continue funding the vital policing services we all depend on.”

The survey launches today (5 December 2022) and closes on the 11 January 2023.

Residents should visit www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk during the consultation period and fill in the short survey to make their voice heard.

Alternatively, to receive a paper copy by post, contact the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in the following ways:

Email: OPCC@northwales.police.uk

Phone: 01492 805486

Post: Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner North Wales, Police Headquarters. Glan y Don, Colwyn Bay, LL29 8AW