Thames Valley crime chief seeks local opinion on policing budget.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, Matthew Barber, is asking the region’s residents to share their views on priority areas for the local policing budget for next year and 2026.
He wants residents to share their views on which areas they would like the policing element of council tax to be focused in the 2025/26 budget by completing a local crime survey.
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 to make additional investments in local policing. Last year, increases of up to £13 (for a Band D property) were permitted.
The Commissioner is due to set the 2025/26 policing budget by the end of January 2025.
“As Police and Crime Commissioner, it is my responsibility to ensure that Thames Valley Police has sufficient resources to effectively prevent and investigate crime, support victims and protect communities,” said Matthew Barber.
“Setting the policing budget remains a complex process of balancing priorities and I am acutely aware of financial pressures households are under. This year, I will be setting the budget, including determining the policing element of council tax, following central Government funding decisions that are set to affect employers up and down the country.”
He says he knows people expect a good service from their police force and wants to ensure that the policing budget can support this while addressing concerns and priorities of the region’s communities.
“By sharing your views, you will help shape important decisions about police funding and how Thames Valley Police can continue to work to keep our communities safe,” added the Commissioner.
For the last financial year, the increase in council tax of 25p per week has helped to deliver:
- an additional 150 police officers across the force, including neighbourhood and Rural Crime Taskforce officers
- a Thames Valley-wide programme to help tackle knife crime
- continued investment in the 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 a new road safety strategy document
- Prevention of reoffending through the Restart programme
The survey can be completed at: https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90503915/OPCC-public-consultation.
