Hertfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards is consulting residents on next year's contribution from local taxpayers towards policing in the county. 

The PCC's priority is to maintain the local policing model and protect police officer numbers as he prepares to set the council tax policing precept. 

Following previous council tax and government investment Hertfordshire Constabulary has a record number of police officers working to keep the county safe. 

But the Commissioner is warning that the police service is facing a very challenging financial outlook as the government funding settlement announced on 17^th December falls short of meeting the cost pressures that policing is facing. 

As a result, Hertfordshire Constabulary faces significant funding pressures due to increase in costs including pay increases for officers and staff along with inflationary impacts on operating costs. 

Mr Ash-Edwards has already raised concerns with Ministers about the impact that the Government's increases to employer national insurance contributions will have on local policing. Despite public assurances, the cost of this will not be fully reimbursed in Hertfordshire. Mr Ash-Edwards is due to set the 2025/26 policing budget by the end of January 2025.  

Just over half (56%) of Hertfordshire Constabulary's funding comes from government with the remainder (44%) from the policing precept part of council tax, fees and charges. 

Historically Hertfordshire residents pay one of the lowest contributions towards policing through their council tax with the current precept being £30 below the average a year. This is the fifth lowest amount in England and Wales. 

This year the government, in the funding allocations for Hertfordshire, has assumed Police and Crime Commissioners will raise the precept by £14 a year for the average (Band D) household. This would represent an increase of 27p a week. This increase will help, along other measures the Commissioner is putting in place, to protect the police officer numbers.  

Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Hertfordshire Police & Crime Commissioner, said:  

"It is my responsibility to set a budget which balances the pressures on the taxpayer with the need for Hertfordshire Constabulary to have adequate resources to protect communities by preventing crime and catching criminals". 

"The Government has assumed in its funding calculations that Police & Crime Commissioners will increase the police precept by the maximum allowed amount of £14 per year at Band D. I want to consider everyone's views before making my decision on this". 

"Hertfordshire residents have told me they want visible and responsive policing and Hertfordshire currently has a record number of police officers, which I want to protect" 

"Inflationary pressures and the fact that the Government has not fully funded the pay award and increases to employer national insurance mean significant savings need to be made in the policing budget. Even after a Council Tax increase, we will need to make over £7m in savings next year".  

"A £14 increase in the Council Tax will still mean that Hertfordshire has the fifth lowest policing precept in the country". 

"My overall priority is to ensure the police are able to effectively tackle crime and keep Hertfordshire safe." 

An on-line survey opened on December 20 and will close at midnight on January 12th 2025, it can be accessed at https://bit.ly/HertsPCCprecept.