Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster’s budget for 2023-24, which will deliver further significant improvements to policing across the county, has been finalised.
The 2023-24 budget will provide the Chief Constable with the resources necessary to build on the considerable progress in service delivery made since 2021 to deliver the strong local policing that residents have said they want and expect.
At a meeting of the Police and Crime Panel held today (26 Jan), the Commissioner highlighted the many positive outcomes resulting from her 2022-23 budget including meeting the recruitment target of 283 extra officers; a tougher and more proactive approach to tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) – such as the introduction of ASB coordinators; a significant reduction in burglary and increased enforcement on our roads to tackle speeding and dangerous driving.
She also explained that in line with the expectations set out in her Police and Crime Plan, the rural crime team has been boosted significantly since 2021 to improve services across the whole county. In addition, a Safeguarding Hub has been created alongside the appointment of a stalking coordinator and stalking advocates as part of the Commissioner’s strategy to increase the safety of women and girls.
Members of the Police and Crime Panel received a full and comprehensive report on budget proposals for the coming year and supported her plans to continue progress on making our residents safer.
Commissioner Angelique Foster said: “My focus is to keep our communities safe and to see them get the policing service they need and deserve. It is essential that local issues remain at the front and centre of service delivery.
“I welcome the Panel’s recognition of the hard work that my office and I have undertaken to drive forward the substantial improvements to policing that the Chief Constable and her Force have delivered to date. It was good to see the Panel’s understanding that such progress can only be sustained with adequate funding.”
“This year’s budget will help to maintain our extra 283 police officers and deliver the quality of services local people deserve. It will also ensure the police bring more criminals to justice and protect our law-abiding residents.”
The budget for policing Derbyshire in 2023-24 is £219.47m. This includes a 5.9% increase in the portion of the council tax that goes towards policing (the police precept). This equates to £1.25 a month (£15 per annum) for a Band D (the average) property. The majority of properties in Derby City and Derbyshire are rated lower than a Band D and therefore pay a lower rate, for example, a Band B property will pay an additional 97p per month (£11.67 per annum).
The amount of Council Tax that goes towards policing is approximately 11% of the overall bill.
Ends
Editor information
- Key Service Enhancements supported by the budget for 2023-24
- Increased focus on road safety with a robust approach to enforcement to reduce the number of serious and fatal accidents on Derbyshire’s Roads.
- Further investment in problem-solving techniques, supported by ASB coordinators, will intensify the work to tackle ASB in communities.
- Investment in technology to increase the time frontline officers spend in communities.
- Neighbourhood Policing Teams supported by dedicated Enforcement Teams to tackle persistent local issues, such as ASB and burglary.
- Acquisitive Crime Teams created to conduct investigations into burglary, robbery, and serial vehicle crime, helping to further reduce this type of criminality.
- More night-time economy patrols, high profile and plain clothes patrols.
- Recruitment of an increasing number of Special Constables to whom taser training and pursuit driving courses will be offered.
- Increased training in police pursuit for police officers.
- New Safer Neighbourhood bases will be established in Clay Cross and Killamarsh to improve the service delivery to local communities.
- Improvements to the waiting times for 999 and 101 calls for assistance,
- Expansion of the Drone Team helping to increase the cover of remote areas, identify criminality, locate missing persons and keep people safe.
- Specialist teams addressing areas such as anti-social behaviour, acquisitive crime, rape and serious sexual offence.
- The PCSO establishment will be sustained, with training provided in problem solving to support the work to tackle ASB.
- Increased support for volunteer schemes, including the Special Constabulary, Neighbourhood Watch, FarmWatch and Community Speedwatch.
- A mental health triage function, supported by partners, to focus on people experiencing a mental health crisis, thereby reducing the demand for police assistance.
- Formation of Rape and Serious Sexual Offences teams to increase the number of rape cases that receive justice.
- Creation of victim liaison officers.
- Increase focus on online related abuse.
- Increasing online protection and investment in the Digital Forensic Unit.
| Council Tax Bandings | ||||
| Band | 22/23 | 23/24 | Diff | Diff |
| £ | £ | £ | % | |
| A | 167.73 | 177.73 | 10.00 | |
| B | 195.69 | 207.36 | 11.67 | |
| C | 223.64 | 236.98 | 13.34 | |
| D | 251.60 | 266.60 | 15.00 | 5.96% |
| E | 307.51 | 325.84 | 18.33 | |
| F | 363.42 | 385.09 | 21.67 | |
| G | 419.33 | 444.33 | 25.00 | |
| H | 503.20 | 533.20 | 30.00 |
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