POLICE in England and Wales could receive additional funding of £450m in the next financial year.

In a statement in the House of Commons on December 18, Home Secretary Nick Hurd announced that the cap on the amount police and crime commissioners can ask people to contribute to the cost of policing would be relaxed.

Commissioners are to be given the power to raise the portion of council tax which goes towards policing by £12 per household annually.

Should this happen it will raise £270m which, on top of the £130m from central government for national priorities, such as firearms, and an extra £50m for counter terrorism will add up to £450m.

The news has been welcomed by Hampshire police and crime commissioner Michael Lane, who is urging residents to ensure they have their say on the level of contribution they are willing to make toward the cost of local policing.

He said: “I’m delighted that the minister has recognised the need for flexibility in the precept local tax-setting powers that a police and crime commissioner should have. This has given me the option of increasing the amount paid for policing by £1 a month (£12 per year) for an average household, if that is something that I would wish to exercise on residents behalf and that they would wish me to.

“This level of increase would help to maintain and restore policing in certain areas to the levels that our communities are asking for and the levels that we need to maintain - as I’m advised professionally by the Chief Constable - to keep us all safer from the greatest threats and risks of harm.”

Mr Lane said: “I am keen to hear from our council tax payers the level of contribution they are willing to make. The survey is part of how I will ensure I hear the voices of Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, and Southampton residents and the results will help me to set this year’s precept.”

Commenting on the news that the Government will not be reducing funding for policing in 2018-19, Mr Lane added: “The announcement has promised that next year the same amount of funds will be made available to the people that I serve for their policing safety as last year, and that makes a difference, it adds some money back into the budget. I welcome the government’s announcement, I welcome the recognition of the challenges and pressures and will continue to press for innovation and change for the future that enables the outcomes my communities seek that of being safer.

“I’ve lobbied hard on behalf of the residents of Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, and Southampton for fairer and sufficient funding for our policing and for those aspects of my work beyond policing as the police and crime commissioner, and this shows that the voice of local residents, the voice of professionals engaged in keeping us safer, is heard in government.

“The announcement is good news. It is progress, is not the end of the journey. These are short-term measures but they do deal with options for the next couple of years. In the longer term, I plan to continue to fight for a nationally fairer funding formula. I know that there are pressures on government, but I continue to believe that this is the most appropriate way for the long term future.”

To take part in the police and crime commissioner council tax survey, visit hampshire-pcc.gov.uk/budget.