New police chief raises share of council tax

6:00pm Monday 4th February 2013 in News By James Nadal

New police chief raises share of council tax New police chief raises share of council tax

THAMES Valley's new elected police chief has decided to raise council tax in order to recruit more officers.

In a move out of line with the major councils in Bucks, which are all set to freeze their portion of the tax, Anthony Stansfeld has decided to up the rate from April.

It means the average Band D household will pay £3.08 a year extra.

Mr Stansfeld, who won the vote to become Thames Valley Police's first ever Police and Crime Commissioner in November, said the additional cash will be used to recruit an extra nine officers and redeploy 34 others to key roles in policing and child protection.

He said: "This increase is less than a pint of beer for a Band D household or less than a penny a day but it allows us to keep our frontline secure by not just maintaining police numbers but actually increasing them."

The force has had to make £70m savings over six years starting in 2011/12, due to Government cuts, with cash savings of £13.5 million already identified for 2013/14.

The tax rise is arguably the biggest decision Mr Stansfeld, elected to the £85,000 per year role as the Conservative party's candidate, has had to make so far since coming to office.

He has also recently launched a new plan to tackle crime in the area and appointed a deputy - former Wycombe District Council Deputy Leader Cllr David Carroll - who will earn £35,000 for the part time position.

Mr Stansfeld is also responsible for a new Community Safety Fund which brings together a number of different drug intervention, crime reduction and community safety programmes that the Home Office previously provided directly to other authorities.

Despite cuts of 16 per cent in the grant for this area Mr Stansfeld has pledged to try to maintain the current £3.5m level.

He said: "This is crucial to reducing crime as it will allow groups which have received Home Office funding before such as Community Safety Partnerships, drug intervention programmes and organisations tackling gang and youth violence to continue."

Chief Constable Sara Thornton said: "I am pleased that the Police and Crime Commissioner has supported the force by proposing a modest rise in the precept. This will enable us to increase the number of officers on local patrol teams and to increase the strength in our child protection units."

Comments (18)

6:35pm Mon 4 Feb 13

Kwak1100 says...

This is all well & good but will it give any meaningful increase in police presence, rather than a lotal lack of, in the areas that need it most but are seemingly ignored?
This is all well & good but will it give any meaningful increase in police presence, rather than a lotal lack of, in the areas that need it most but are seemingly ignored? Kwak1100

6:42pm Mon 4 Feb 13

nannymcd says...

How can you have any trust in this man? I wrote to him in November concerning something quite serious - got a reply saying he was looking into it and GUESS WHAT - have heard nothing since - yet another complete and utter waste of space
How can you have any trust in this man? I wrote to him in November concerning something quite serious - got a reply saying he was looking into it and GUESS WHAT - have heard nothing since - yet another complete and utter waste of space nannymcd

6:47pm Mon 4 Feb 13

yog says...

Great so tax goes up to pay for his Tory friends part time salary.

Same old Tories.
Great so tax goes up to pay for his Tory friends part time salary. Same old Tories. yog

7:01pm Mon 4 Feb 13

5 is too many says...

Maybe if we didn't have to pay for such inflated salaries our taxes wouldn't need to go up?! I know it's not a lot of money but every penny is accounted for in our household where both parents work full time. Why don't TVP employ cheaper clerks like the met do to complete their paperwork, allowing police officers to do the job they are employed to do and be a more visible presence on the streets?
Maybe if we didn't have to pay for such inflated salaries our taxes wouldn't need to go up?! I know it's not a lot of money but every penny is accounted for in our household where both parents work full time. Why don't TVP employ cheaper clerks like the met do to complete their paperwork, allowing police officers to do the job they are employed to do and be a more visible presence on the streets? 5 is too many

7:51pm Mon 4 Feb 13

handsworth says...

A good sensible start.
A good sensible start. handsworth

9:04pm Mon 4 Feb 13

demoness the second says...

I must be reading this wrong.. so please bear with me.
How does the police chief have the authority and autonomy to make the decision to raise council tax?

Why is this not a council decision?
Or am I missing something?
I must be reading this wrong.. so please bear with me. How does the police chief have the authority and autonomy to make the decision to raise council tax? Why is this not a council decision? Or am I missing something? demoness the second

11:17pm Mon 4 Feb 13

wiseman1 says...

When the new police chief acquired the authority to up the council tax? The survey conducted by WDC and the tax freeze was then just a waste of time. I suppose he had to make up for his own and David Carroll’s salary and next year he can give himself a fat pay rise and increase the council tax again. Few days back he said that drunkenness and drugs have been identified as key factors to tackle in a new plan to cut crime. That just shows how much he is out of touch with the real causes of crime.
When the new police chief acquired the authority to up the council tax? The survey conducted by WDC and the tax freeze was then just a waste of time. I suppose he had to make up for his own and David Carroll’s salary and next year he can give himself a fat pay rise and increase the council tax again. Few days back he said that drunkenness and drugs have been identified as key factors to tackle in a new plan to cut crime. That just shows how much he is out of touch with the real causes of crime. wiseman1

12:08am Tue 5 Feb 13

realist_highwycombe says...

5 is too many wrote:
Maybe if we didn't have to pay for such inflated salaries our taxes wouldn't need to go up?! I know it's not a lot of money but every penny is accounted for in our household where both parents work full time. Why don't TVP employ cheaper clerks like the met do to complete their paperwork, allowing police officers to do the job they are employed to do and be a more visible presence on the streets?
Hopefully you are not referring to the salaries of the actual police officers on the ground being inflated - I think they deserve every penny for it.

On the other hand £85,000 a year for this chap is quite frankly, silly.

I fully agree with you in relation to TVP needing to employ more members of civilian staff to complete the reams of paperwork the officers have to complete.

Civilians can be employed for a fraction of the cost and can be worth their weight in gold in allowing police officers to get straight back out on the streets doing what the public want them to do - nicking people!!
[quote][p][bold]5 is too many[/bold] wrote: Maybe if we didn't have to pay for such inflated salaries our taxes wouldn't need to go up?! I know it's not a lot of money but every penny is accounted for in our household where both parents work full time. Why don't TVP employ cheaper clerks like the met do to complete their paperwork, allowing police officers to do the job they are employed to do and be a more visible presence on the streets?[/p][/quote]Hopefully you are not referring to the salaries of the actual police officers on the ground being inflated - I think they deserve every penny for it. On the other hand £85,000 a year for this chap is quite frankly, silly. I fully agree with you in relation to TVP needing to employ more members of civilian staff to complete the reams of paperwork the officers have to complete. Civilians can be employed for a fraction of the cost and can be worth their weight in gold in allowing police officers to get straight back out on the streets doing what the public want them to do - nicking people!! realist_highwycombe

12:25am Tue 5 Feb 13

5 is too many says...

Absolutely not aimed at the police officer's salaries- and totally agree that they deserve every penny they get. £85,000 on the other hand is rediculous!
Absolutely not aimed at the police officer's salaries- and totally agree that they deserve every penny they get. £85,000 on the other hand is rediculous! 5 is too many

1:00am Tue 5 Feb 13

RenegadeJ007 says...

More of Less
More of Less RenegadeJ007

1:02am Tue 5 Feb 13

Voyeur says...

Rather than council tax being increased it is the Thames Valley Police Authority Precept that is being increased and it forms part of the overall council tax bill (including the fire service) that the District Council collects on behalf of itself and other authorities.
Rather than council tax being increased it is the Thames Valley Police Authority Precept that is being increased and it forms part of the overall council tax bill (including the fire service) that the District Council collects on behalf of itself and other authorities. Voyeur

8:40am Tue 5 Feb 13

s6blr says...

I am ABSOLUTELY SURE that residents recently burgled in Marlow, Bourne End, Flackwell Heath, Penn and High Wycombe will take HUGE PLEASURE in paying more for NOTHING.

Sack the bar steward -- I didn't vote for him and I refuse to pay taxes not voted on by council.
I am ABSOLUTELY SURE that residents recently burgled in Marlow, Bourne End, Flackwell Heath, Penn and High Wycombe will take HUGE PLEASURE in paying more for NOTHING. Sack the bar steward -- I didn't vote for him and I refuse to pay taxes not voted on by council. s6blr

10:12am Tue 5 Feb 13

stir up says...

It might be and idea to refer this to Eric Pickles as he keeps on about making local councils more cost aware, and this man sttod a a Tory and now he wantst spend money, Just by getting rid of hims and deputy could save a lot of money as I assume he not only get paid but gets expenses on top.
It might be and idea to refer this to Eric Pickles as he keeps on about making local councils more cost aware, and this man sttod a a Tory and now he wantst spend money, Just by getting rid of hims and deputy could save a lot of money as I assume he not only get paid but gets expenses on top. stir up

9:52pm Tue 5 Feb 13

tigeran says...

s6blr wrote:
I am ABSOLUTELY SURE that residents recently burgled in Marlow, Bourne End, Flackwell Heath, Penn and High Wycombe will take HUGE PLEASURE in paying more for NOTHING.

Sack the bar steward -- I didn't vote for him and I refuse to pay taxes not voted on by council.
They are not paying for nothing!! They are paying tax to keep the people that rob them!! You can bet these criminals are on benefits, they dont work so what else would they be on?!!
[quote][p][bold]s6blr[/bold] wrote: I am ABSOLUTELY SURE that residents recently burgled in Marlow, Bourne End, Flackwell Heath, Penn and High Wycombe will take HUGE PLEASURE in paying more for NOTHING. Sack the bar steward -- I didn't vote for him and I refuse to pay taxes not voted on by council.[/p][/quote]They are not paying for nothing!! They are paying tax to keep the people that rob them!! You can bet these criminals are on benefits, they dont work so what else would they be on?!! tigeran

9:53pm Tue 5 Feb 13

tigeran says...

s6blr wrote:
I am ABSOLUTELY SURE that residents recently burgled in Marlow, Bourne End, Flackwell Heath, Penn and High Wycombe will take HUGE PLEASURE in paying more for NOTHING.

Sack the bar steward -- I didn't vote for him and I refuse to pay taxes not voted on by council.
They are not paying for nothing!! They are paying tax to keep the people that rob them!! You can bet these criminals are on benefits, they dont work so what else would they be on?!!
[quote][p][bold]s6blr[/bold] wrote: I am ABSOLUTELY SURE that residents recently burgled in Marlow, Bourne End, Flackwell Heath, Penn and High Wycombe will take HUGE PLEASURE in paying more for NOTHING. Sack the bar steward -- I didn't vote for him and I refuse to pay taxes not voted on by council.[/p][/quote]They are not paying for nothing!! They are paying tax to keep the people that rob them!! You can bet these criminals are on benefits, they dont work so what else would they be on?!! tigeran

12:40pm Wed 6 Feb 13

Dr James says...

demoness the second wrote:
I must be reading this wrong.. so please bear with me. How does the police chief have the authority and autonomy to make the decision to raise council tax? Why is this not a council decision? Or am I missing something?
Your absolutley right, who the hell gave authority to raise the Council Tax to the police chief ...WTF, this is all wrong............how did that happen....? surely not
[quote][p][bold]demoness the second[/bold] wrote: I must be reading this wrong.. so please bear with me. How does the police chief have the authority and autonomy to make the decision to raise council tax? Why is this not a council decision? Or am I missing something?[/p][/quote]Your absolutley right, who the hell gave authority to raise the Council Tax to the police chief ...WTF, this is all wrong............how did that happen....? surely not Dr James

5:27pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Kiwipuss says...

"Erm, wait just a mo here, 1st, he looks like he is about to retire! + who gave him the right to increase Council tax, (Or is it linked to his pension)
Will we all see any increase in Police patrols in any area, (Stokenchurch for one) all we see is the Community Police who have no powers of arrest, (And that's every now and again.)
"Erm, wait just a mo here, 1st, he looks like he is about to retire! + who gave him the right to increase Council tax, (Or is it linked to his pension) Will we all see any increase in Police patrols in any area, (Stokenchurch for one) all we see is the Community Police who have no powers of arrest, (And that's every now and again.) Kiwipuss

5:31pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Kiwipuss says...

Let's have the so called crime prevention plan printed in the 'Bucks Free Press'
and see what jumps out the wood work?
Let's have the so called crime prevention plan printed in the 'Bucks Free Press' and see what jumps out the wood work? Kiwipuss

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