At its meeting on 4 February, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel discussed the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposal to increase the police element of the council tax by £24 on a Band D property or around £16 for Bands A and B.
The Panel unanimously agreed to approve the proposed increase in the policing precept but with a recommendation, and commitment from the Commissioner, that he would explore with the Chief Constable the recruitment of an additional 50 officers, in addition to the 55 proposed (40 to be deployed in neighbourhoods).
The Chair of the Panel, Cllr Abdul Khayum said: “The public of South Yorkshire want to see more for their money; essentially more bobbies on the beat. This will help to increase people’s trust and confidence in South Yorkshire Police and help them feel safer”.
Cllr Stuart Sansome, Vice-Chair of the Panel, said: “The panel commends the Commissioner for the return of neighbourhood policing and we welcome that, for the first time in many years, we have the chance of seeing officer numbers in neighbourhoods increase. However, while all members of the panel, whatever political party, agree with the principle of the precept rise, we cannot agree with the meagre recruitment proposal of only 40 additional officers for neighbourhood policing. What we can all agree is that it’s important to work together to do everything within our power to make our communities safer and tackle these rises in crime”.
The full report submitted to the Panel can be viewed by clicking 'VISIT' below.
The Panel’s decision and recommendations will be submitted to the Commissioner by 8 February and published on the Police and Crime Panel’s website - Document Library / Precept Proposals.