Local policing budget

Published: 27 November 2024

Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Thames Valley, is asking residents to share their views on which areas they would like the policing element of council tax to be focused on in the local policing budget for 2025/26.

The 2025/26 policing budget is due to be set by the end of January 2025, and the allocation of central government funding for police forces is expected to be received in December. Alongside this, the funding settlement allows Police and Crime Commissioners to increase council tax in order to make additional investments in local policing.

Last year, increases of up to £13.00 (25p per week) for a Band D property were permitted. This increase helped deliver:

Additional 150 police officers recruited across the force, including neighbourhood and Rural Crime Taskforce officers
Thames Valley-wide programme to help tackle knife crime implemented
Continued investment in forensic improvement programme
Investment to help tackle retail crime through the PCC’s Retail Crime Strategy
Continued investment in a Thames Valley-wide CCTV partnership
Road safety initiatives across Thames Valley, including launch of the Road Safety Strategy
Prevention of reoffending through the Restart programme

As well as the local crime survey, residents of Thames Valley are able to attend regular public meetings where the policing budget is discussed and reviewed.

The survey can be completed the PCC web site, the deadline is 12.00 noon on Friday 3 January 2025.