East Yorkshire Police Bills to rise by 5.9%

East Riding households are set to spend an extra £14.99-a-year on Humberside Police after a 5.9 per cent hike in its precept was approved.

The Humberside Police and Crime Panel approved the hike along with the force’s annual budget which includes plans to place 24-hour response teams in every force area town.

Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Evison said the hike would be used to protect officer numbers including in neighbourhood teams and those tackling rural crime.

But it comes as the budget also includes plans to use £6.2m from force reserves to fund investments and cover rising costs amid double-digit inflation.

That follows an earlier warning that £7.5m in savings were needed in the next five years as costs for utilities, fuel and staff pay rise above levels forecast last year.

The PCC told East Riding councillors late last year the force was facing a perfect storm financially, with the cost of utilities alone rising by £2m.

Mr Evison told the Panel today that Humberside Police Chief Constable Lee Freeman could continue with its plans for 24-hour response teams in every town with the precept hike.

That includes returning 24-hour teams in Driffield and Brigg in North Lincolnshire.

Further dedicated community police officers are set to join on top of the force’s current strength of 2,200 which will be retained along with 148 PCSOs.

One sergeant and eight constables are set to join the force’s Rural Task Force and be based in the East Riding and North Lincolnshire.

More officers will be added to the Roads Policing Unit to increase patrols and the force aims to fully staff its new Domestic Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Teams.

Further officers are also set to be deployed into local criminal investigations department (CID) teams.

A report to the Panel stated the force’s financial position was challenging but sustaining in the coming years.

The PCC’s finance lead Kevin Wilson stated in the report Government funding to recruit more officers, known as Operation Uplift, would continue.

But he added £14.2m alone would be spent on pay and non-pay cost pressures this coming financial year.

Budget documents stated that a combination of precept increases, using reserves and making savings would result in a surplus by 2028.

The £14.99-a-year precept hike on Band D homes comes as East Riding Council is set to decide on a proposed council tax hike of 4.99 per cent council tax hike tomorrow.

Hull City Council is also proposing a 4.99 per cent council tax increase while Humberside Fire and Rescue Service has proposed a £4.99-a-year hike on Band D homes.

Mr Evison said money raised through the police precept was vital in helping deliver effective services.

The PCC said:

“A significant part of the force’s recent improvements have been down to sound financial planning and managing the budget available to us.

“The number of police officers has risen to around 600 more than the low point in 2016 and there are now over 2,200 officers in the force, the highest number for over a decade and communities have told me they are seeing ongoing improvements in the service.

“Of course, things are never perfect and there is a strong desire to improve the service even further for the public we serve, we all want to see a more visible police presence, more action to prevent and reduce crime and protect the most vulnerable people in our society, from children to the elderly.”