WARWICKSHIRE Police and Crime Commissioner Phillip Seccombe is proposing no increase in the police precept for Cotswold residents.

Mr Seccombe is responsible for setting the budget for Warwickshire Police, which includes setting the local 'police precept' - the part of council tax that goes to the police.

Mr Seccombe said for 2017 the existing and new policing capabilities are to be funded entirely from within existing resources, so is proposing no increase in the precept.

Mr Seccombe said: "I know that these are very difficult economic times for many people and there are also increasingly large pressures on the budgets of local authorities and other public-sector bodies.

"While this is likely to mean that other portions of the council tax may have to rise, I am keen to ensure that wherever possible this is not the case for the police precept."

Mr Seccombe added that the shortfall for 2017/18 would be funded through spending from the force’s financial reserves.

"At the start of £2017/18, these reserves are expected to total £25.796 million. I plan to use £17.602 million of these reserves over a four year period and on a prudent basis to support each year’s budget," Mr Seccombe said.