Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner has urged the Government to allow a 2% cap on council tax rises to be scrapped.
The current system means that Staffordshire Police cannot exceed the figure on their element of the tax bill paid by residents in Lichfield and Burntwood.
But Matthew Ellis says the challenges facing forces across the country means funding needs to be found.
“I’ve not called on Government for any more funding for policing since being elected in November 2012,” he said. “I’ve coped with budget reductions and taken the view that what was already there could be spent better.
“My office has worked closely with Staffordshire Police to achieve better use of the money which is why here, neighbourhood policing numbers were 434 in 2013 and are 440 now with no change to response officers.
“However, the world we are now living in, especially post the Manchester and London terrorist attacks, means it is not credible that current budgets can maintain the increased levels of police resources required for what is likely to be a long period in Staffordshire, and I’m sure elsewhere.”
Mr Ellis said the demands on local policing meant more resources were needed – but warned the focus on counter-terrorism must not overshadow other demands on the force.
He added: “Government I’m sure will review the wider counter terrorism resources on a national basis. However, locally elected Police and Crime Commissioners are accountable to their electorate, meaning we are best placed to know the needs of our specific areas and be directly accountable for the funding decisions we make. That was the whole principle around Police and Crime Commissioners.
“I froze the amount people paid in council tax towards policing every year in Staffordshire until this year, when the need to ensure new threats were met head on, meant I made a decision to increase.
“I have written to the Home Secretary today to suggest she considers this proposal around local funding for policing. It is for local Chief Constables to determine what resources are needed and I’m sure most Commissioners will have no issue with being accountable for the budget decisions they make.”
