4^th Feb 2025

PCC’s budget proposal approved by Council.

Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott has had his budget proposal approved by the Kent and Medway Police and Crime Panel.

Following a public consultation, he suggested an increase in the council tax police precept to protect the current level of police provision.   It will mean an additional £14 a year for a Band D property, which is equivalent to £1.16 a month or just under 4 pence a day. This will help raise a total of £183.9m, but even with this increase and Government funds of £303.2m, Kent Police will have a shortfall of around £10 million.

Before Christmas the PCC asked residents for their views. Nearly 77% said they would either be happy to pay an extra £14 (for a Band D property) or said they were not happy, but understood it was necessary to sufficiently fund Kent Police.  23% said they were not happy and would accept a significant reduction in service.

Today councillors unanimously approved the budget proposal.

Matthew Scott says,

“This is never an easy request to make, but policing is facing significant financial pressure.  I am grateful for the uplift in the core grant fund the government has agreed to pay, but even with this and an increase to the council tax precept, we will still have to make savings of around £10 million. 

The government has agreed to give Kent Police £303.2m, but police officer and staff pay alone will cost over £411m.  The increased precept will help us cover that and reduce the need to make even further cuts.

We now have more officers in Kent than ever before, our call handling is amongst the best in the country and we have cut crime by 13% since 2019.

We will still have to make significant savings and I will work with the Chief Constable to make sure your money is spent well.”

ENDS

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Note to editors:

For a further breakdown in the funding figures, please visit this page on our website:

Setting the Kent Police budget