RESIDENTS across Hampshire are being warned to brace themselves for an inflation- busting rise in the police's share of the council tax - or face cuts in policing. Hampshire Police Authority is expecting its government grant to be slashed - enabling more cash to be ploughed into urban areas - so it will be left trying to recoup the cash from elsewhere. It is likely to face a stark choice: either raise its precept or cut its services - and it is laying the blame for the decision squarely on the government's shoulders. The government has already told the police authority that it will lose £5 million in grant over the next few years, fuelling the fear that a low grant will be received for the coming year. Increasing demands from the government in the form of new initiatives and legislation, coupled with the expected low grant, are impacting upon the police's resources. These include: l The impact of terrorist activity in the UK and the additional legislation already in place (Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005) and with more currently under consideration. l The increased emphasis on partnership working, including the introduction of local area agreements and local strategic partnerships l The continuing focus on anti-social behaviour and the legislation (including the Licensing Act 2003) now in place and taking effect to deal with it l The welcome proposals for a very significant increase in the number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) over the next few years l The introduction of new legislation such as the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, the Road Safety Bill and the Violent Crime Reduction Bill l Changes in the general government grant which may redistribute existing support away from Hampshire to more urban police authorities, changes in police pensions accounting and the cessation of some existing specific government grant for certain activities at local command unit level. Adrian Collett, chairman of the police authority's finance committee, said: "We can not give any reliable indication of what the council tax rise for policing will be until we are sure of the level of support we will receive from government. "What we do know is that we will be facing some tough decisions once again this year when deciding the budget for 2006/07. We do not want to see residents facing large council tax increases, but it is also essential that policing levels are not reduced. "However, any decision on whether to introduce larger council tax rise or make cuts may be taken out of our hands - even if residents support a rise in order to protect and enhance their policing service - because government may once again decide to cap authorities. "We will, as always, be looking for every efficiency saving we can find, but this may not be enough to fund the increasing legislative and regulatory demands of government in addition to the local priorities that have been identified." The police authority will find out how much its government grant will be at the end of November or beginning of December.
