PCC's budget proposal
23rd January 2024
Tackling antisocial behaviour at the heart of PCC’s plan for safer neighbourhoods
Kent’s streets will see more police patrols to tackle antisocial behaviour and drug hotspots, as part of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s plans for the forthcoming year.
Kent PCC Matthew Scott has secured funding from the Home Office to deliver extra visible policing in these hotspot areas to continue to drive down crime. This will sit alongside Kent Police’s new Neighbourhood Policing Model, which is seeing police officers deployed to local communities and schools.
To support this, a new “immediate justice” programme will be commissioned from October, which will see those committing antisocial behaviour forced to undertake some payback to the community within 48 hours.
There will also be investment to support improvements to digital forensics and for roads policing. Funding from Government will also help maintain Kent’s record number of police officers.
Matthew Scott said,
“Antisocial behaviour is a blight on victims and our neighbourhoods. Whilst it has fallen in recent years, I know that this is not everyone’s experience. These plans will see more visible policing to tackle these offences and deal with the drug use that so many complain about. And those caught will rightly face justice, through my plans to make offenders payback to the community.”
The plans are announced alongside the PCC’s budget for 2024/5. This will see funding to maintain Kent Police’s record number of Police Officers. However, given the cost pressures on policing, the PCC is proposing a council tax precept increase of £13.00 per year – just over £1.08 per month. Savings will still be required to balance the budget, but the rise will significantly reduce the amount that the Medium Term Financial Plan forecasted last year.
Matthew said,
“I do not ask for this rise lightly and I do so because it is needed to help balance the budget. If I did not ask for this, we would need to find another £11m on top of what we already need to save. I will always make sure that taxpayers’ money is well spent and is focussed on making Kent safer. I will also continue to drive forward reforms to procurement and boost collaboration to make sure we are doing everything we can to save money.”
Final proposals will be published ahead of the Police and Crime Panel meeting on 6 February.
You can comment on the proposals via this form: Contact form (kent-pcc.gov.uk)
Note to editors:
The key points from the 2024/25 budget and precept proposal from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) are:
- A proposed increase in the precept of £13 a year, or 5.34% for a Band D property, equivalent to £1.08 a month or 3.5p per day.
- The police precept on council tax for an average Band D property will be £256.15.
- The Kent PCC council tax precept remains the eighth lowest in the country.
The funding for the antisocial behaviour patrols will be £932,000 for the full financial year, and £500,000 for the “immediate justice” (to begin in October 2024).
The Police and Crime Panel will meet to discuss this budget proposal on 6 February.