Most households in Northumbria will pay, on average, only 15p per day for one of the most efficient police forces in the country, according to figures released by Northumbria Police Authority today.

Police authority members have agreed an annual budget of £287,605,000 for the coming year, guaranteeing Northumbria Police’s existing levels of service plus paying for an extra 300 police officers to carry out operational duties, instead of an anticipated reduction of 150 officers in the force.

The plans are to recruit 110 more police officers, take on police staff to release a further 110 officers to the frontline and free up another 80 officers for operational duties.

The authority has also agreed to invest almost £2.7m in a range of new proposals to support front line policing – including modern new premises for the Force Information and Intelligence Department and for the new Major Investigation Teams, enhanced facilities to further develop the use of DNA evidence, and for further workforce modernisation.

Police authority members also agreed a capital programme totalling £28.2m, with £11.5m being allocated to major building works, such as the development of a new Area Command HQ at Silverlink in North Tyneside, with around £10m set aside for new computer and IT systems, upgrades to the voice and data network and work on web-based services.

Council taxpayers across Northumberland and Tyne and Wear will see an increase in the proportion of their Council tax bill which is payable to Northumbria Police Authority – the precept – of only 4.9%.

Chair of Northumbria Police Authority, Cllr Mick Henry said,  “We have tried, and succeeded, in holding down charges to Council taxpayers to the absolute minimum. This, coupled with the major investment in operational policing we intend to make during the year, means that Northumbria Police will offer a service, which is second to none and that is something we can all feel very proud of.

“Our priority when we look at how to allocate our budget is always to ensure we direct money to deliver a service that residents want and need.  This year’s small increase, along with the significant increase in operational police officers will enable us to do that.”

He added: “We have all come to expect a very high standard of service from Northumbria Police. This budget will enable us to retain that high standard, and improve on it.”
 
Northumbria Police Authority members agreed to overall revenue expenditure for the year 2008/09 of £287.605m, with a total of £33.775m being raised from local Council Tax payers via Council Tax precept.

The police authority agreed precept levels at their meeting that remain the lowest in England and Wales, which will see Band A households paying £52.18p per year (£1 per week), Band B households paying £60.87p (£1.17p per week), Band C households paying £69.57p per year (£1.34p per week) and Band D households paying £78.27p per year (£1.50p per week).

Members of Northumbria Police Authority agreed to the budget at their meeting today (13 February 2008) at Gateshead Civic Centre.

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