I have been asked to explain a bit more about precepts, something added to our council tax bills.
Funding for the police comes both directly from a central government grant and from the police precept. The policing precept is the amount we contribute to local policing through our council tax bill. The precept varies across the UK. It is collected with the council tax and paid to the relevant police force.
West Midlands residents pay £229.50 per annum (Band D properties) and when compared with other authorities this is the second lowest in the UK.
Northumbria residents pay £181.84 – lowest in UK (see below graph from 2024/25 budgets)
Surrey residents pay the highest in England at £337.57 pa some £108 more per Band D property than West Midlands. (Three Wales police authorities are highest).
Some comparisons with neighbouring forces:
West Midlands £229.50
Staffordshire £287.57
West Mercia £291.50
Warwickshire £303.7
This graph, taken from Northumbria Council budget report 2024/25 may help explain things more clearly:
What does this mean?
West Midlands Police are obviously a lean force but, as several police and crime commissioners and chief constables have claimed, it is not funded fairly by central government when compared to other police forces. Governments, and previous commissioners, have cited the amount we pay in precept as a means of closing the funding gap.
I therefore conclude that this government will look to the residents of the West Midlands to pay more an more for our policing.
Ken Hawkins 