Police Federation: “Council tax rise is right thing for Gloucestershire Communities and Constabulary”

Gloucestershire County Council’s Police and Crime Panel has unanimously backed Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl’s proposal to put up the amount people pay for the police through council tax.

Mike Harrison, Chairman of Gloucestershire Police Federation, said: “We are fully supportive of the increase in Council Tax precept by the Chief Constable and Police and Crime Commissioner.

“For too long our budgets have been cut by successive Home Secretaries and our now Prime Minister, it is those cuts that are to blame for the state of Policing across the country today.

“Locally we have lost more than 200 officers and currently have just 1,071. These reductions cannot continue if we are to maintain an effective level of policing.”

Mike added: “Our police officers and staff in Gloucestershire are working harder than ever to respond to incidents, tackle the increasing issues of Organised Crime and County Lines gangs.

“Our Detectives are investing more serious and major crime than ever. Our Safeguarding Teams, Neighbourhood Policing Teams and Local Investigation Teams are pushed to the maximum – and yet are still delivering an outstanding service to the public.

“We will soon see our Roads Policing, Firearms and Dog Section return to local management, which is far better for our local communities… but an uplift of staff is necessary.”

Mike concluded: “The increase will allow us to build in all areas of the Constabulary and provide a service the Public of Gloucestershire deserve.

“We are pleased the Police And Crime Panel and the PCC have done the right thing for the communities and Constabulary in Gloucestershire.”