Use Your Voice – Policing, Priorities and ££s

Download the results of this survey here

Residents are being urged to use their voice and tell the Police and Crime Commissioner how they feel about policing in their communities, what Wiltshire Police should be prioritising and how the policing budget should be spent next year.

The Policing, Priorities and £s survey, seeks the views of residents and stakeholders as PCC Philip Wilkinson develops the budget for policing and commissioned services for the next financial year (2024/25).

As part of the survey respondents will be asked whether their household would be prepared to invest more in policing through the police precept part of their council tax.

Wiltshire Police’s budget is set by the Police and Crime Commissioner based upon the operational policing advice and guidance given to him by the Chief Constable.

It is the responsibility of the PCC to ensure Wiltshire Police has the necessary resources to fight, and prevent, crime and ensure it has the right resources, tools and equipment.

Funding is made up of centralised government grants from the Home Office and locally from the police precept part of you council tax. Wiltshire Police is constantly challenged by the fact it is one of the lowest-funded Forces nationally due to head of population.

As with your household budget, factors such as inflation and increases in goods and services mean it is highly likely that money allocated for policing will not deliver the same level of policing service during the next year – unless the overall amount of money is increased. It could mean that some spending would have to be cut or larger savings made for the PCC to deliver a balanced budget.

Current financial plans make several assumptions about funding in the years ahead including forecasting how much the Government will provide, as well as other factors such as inflations levels, future pay awards for the police workforce and the police precept part of your council tax

No decisions have yet been made for the following financial year yet but and there are various factors which could alter whether the amount you pay to the police part of your council tax will need to change. As part of this budget planning process, the PCC needs to hear your views.

This survey has now closed.