THE amount of tax that will be paid to the police has increased after a new budget was decided.

A 1.99 percent increase in the police precept means that band D households, the most common band, will pay an extra 8p per week to the police.

Gloucestershire police and crime commissioner Martin Surl described the increased charge as 'modest' and believes that it will raise an extra £900,000 for the police.

Mr. Surl said, “I have been given no choice but to increase the council tax by 1.99% for 2017/18 and I am grateful for the panel’s support.

“The grant received from the Home Office has been set on the basis that PCCs will increase the precept to offset the reduction in grant.

"Even with the increased precept, significant savings have again had to be found to balance the budget."

The police and crime panel voted unanimously to support the budget when it was presented to them and Mr Surl admitted there is a good chance that it will be increased year on year for the next few years.

Mr Surl added that the increase will help maintain police and PCSO numbers as well as towards a ‘significant’ increase in the special constabulary.

The new precept works out at an extra £4.18 on the annual bill for a band D householder.

Policing in Gloucestershire is funded in two ways, through a grant from the government and from local council taxes.

The grant received from the government for the year to March 2018 is £750,000 less than last year's grant.

The Home Office has stated that although the grant has reduced, Police and Crime Commissioners can maintain total funding at a “flat cash level” if the precept is increased to the maximum amount.

Mr. Surl told the Police and Crime Panel, “Unfortunately maintaining funding at a flat cash level does not take account of pay increases, price inflation, and additional costs imposed by the Government.

"Although savings of £1.4m have been identified I will still need to increase the precept to balance the budget.

“The precept is set on an annual basis. However, for future planning purposes, if the government grant continues to be reduced, I will have to increase the precept each year.

"Even if the precept is increased by 1.99 percent, the maximum permitted without the need for a local referendum each year to 2020/21, the organisation will still have to find £6m savings to balance the budget over that period."