Consultation launches on proposed Greater Manchester police precept increase

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has launched a public consultation on a proposed increase the police precept for 2022/23 to fund continued improvements to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

The precept is the police element of council tax, and the consultation proposes a £10 increase for a Band D property or £7.77 for a Band B property. The proposed increase comes following a number of improvements in GMP under new Chief Constable Stephen Watson, including a reduction in average answer times for 999 calls, compliance with crime recording standards improved from 77% to 90% and a 55% reducing in the waiting list for incidents.

The proposed increase will, along with a central government grant, fund:

• Investment in the GMP contact centre that handles 999 and 101 calls.
• 438 additional police officers, including 60 dedicated to road safety.
• Continuation of the new Operation Avro days of action.
• A community messaging system

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:

“Having withheld the full increase of the police precept this time last year due to performance issues, GMP is now in a different position. We now have a new Chief Constable with a new improvement plan, and we should show our confidence in that plan. That is why should be backing him through more resources to get GMP to where it needs to be.

“Under the new Chief Constable’s leadership, he has already made considerable progress in tackling crime and remains on track to fully implement his improvement plan. While there is still more to do, I hope the public will agree with me in this consultation process to support our police by giving them more funding so they can truly transform into the service we want them to be and keep our communities safe.”

Deputy Mayor for Policing, Crime and Criminal Justice, Beverley Hughes, said:

“As we don’t have the same number of frontline officers we had back in 2010, it is vital that we continue to invest in our force to make sure they are focused on and have the resources they need to fight and prevent crime. Funds raised by the police precept will help us make further and faster changes to GMP including response times to reported crime, arresting more criminals, a one hundred per cent attendance offered to every victim of burglary, and more officers recruited to improve road safety

“We want the public to have confidence in GMP again and with the help of local taxpayers through the police precept, I know we can do that.”

The public can respond to the police precept consultation via the GM Consult website by Thursday 27 January 2022.

The final precept needs to be agreed by the Greater Manchester Police, Fire and Crime Panel which is made up of councillors from each of the 10 councils and is chaired by a councillor.