Kent taxpayers to rescue 30 police officer posts

Ann Barnes Credit: ADY KERRY

Tuesday, February 3, 2015
3:29 PM

£1.6m has been secured for next year.

To send a link to this page to a friend, you must be logged in.

Taxpayers will rescue 30 frontline police officer posts after an increase in the police element of the council tax.

An average 5p a week increase per household in the police element of the council tax has helped secure £1.6m for Kent Police next year.

At a meeting today the Kent and Medway Police and Crime Panel agreed the element should be increased by 1.99 per cent.

Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, Ann Barnes, said: “Kent Police is already having to find £14.5 million savings next year, due to a reduction in Government grant, which means we shall be losing 54 police officer posts.

“Put bluntly, this £1.6 million means that we shall not have to lose a further 30 officer posts to balance the books.

“This is very good news indeed and I am grateful for the panel’s support.”

The panel also approved the annual refresh of the four year Police and Crime Plan- which sets the vision and priorities for policing and community safety in the county.

Following extensive public consultation, some new policing priorities have been included in the plan.

The most important addition is that £200,000 is to be given to Kent Police each year for the next three years to work with partner agencies to help reduce child sexual exploitation, funded by using savings from previous years.

Mrs Barnes added: “Public consultation showed that visible community policing continues to be a top priority for the people of Kent.

“Despite on-going financial challenges, I am committed, with the Chief Constable, to making sure that it remains the bedrock of local policing here in Kent.

“I am pleased that we have been able to identify this extra money to help tackle child sexual exploitation. Kent Police has national and international recognition for its work in this area but we must do everything we can with our partners to protect our children from harm.”