Spending plans which will see Cleveland Police have its own new air support unit together with a new roads policing headquarters, creation of vulnerable persons unit -- and the maintenance of record numbers of police officers and community support offices -- will be put to members of the Police Authority next week.
The budget proposals for the coming financial years are based on what Police Authority Chair, Councillor Dave McLuckie, describes as 'striking the balance between building on the progress we have made in recent years, delivering continuing improvements in our service to the public -- and recognising the difficulties posed by the current economic climate.'
Under the proposals being put forward by Authority Chief Executive Joe McCarthy and Chief Constable Sean Price the precept -- the police share of Council Tax bills -- would rise by 4.95 per cent. That's within Government guidelines and the equivalent of a rise of 17p per week on the benchmark Band D -- although for the majority of Cleveland householders in Band A the rise would be only 11p per week.
Total proposed spending for the coming year is just under £147million, with just over £31million contributed from the Council Tax precept.
Under the budget plans the record numbers of 1,727 police officers and 197 Community Officers would be maintained for a further year and major improvements would include:
- The creation of the Force's own air support unit.
- The opening of the new Strategic Road Policing Unit at Wynyard.
- Consolidating existing services top provide a new Vulnerable Persons Unit.
- Continuing the roll-out of state-of-the art handheld information technology for front-line officers.
Said Councillor McLuckie "We have made real progress on many different fronts in the current financial year and that has been felt most where it really matters...in front-line policing.
"We have record officer numbers and we have given them the best possible facilities and equipment to do the job -- that's reflected in the fact that crime figures last month were down by 17 per cent compared to last year and we're hopeful of achieving a 20 per reduction by the end of the financial year next month. That means around 11,300 fewer victims of crime and at the same time we've increased detection rates by 4.4 per cent.
"We've also begun an investment programme of £7.3million in providing our officers with the latest mobile technology which will enable them to spend more time on the front line. The end of the year will also see us completing an investment of £4.8million on improving facilities in Hartlepool, with the £5.25million new roads policing unit and £1.5 Organised Crime Unit on target for completion this summer.
"The success of Neighbourhood Policing and other initiatives such as the volunteer and cadet schemes have greatly strengthened our links with the public and that, I believe, was reflected in the results of a recent national survey which showed Cleveland at the top of the league table for public confidence in policing.
"The challenge is to maintain the momentum and at the same time make the best use of resources and provide the best possible value for money for the public we serve. The budget proposals being put to Authority members are designed to do just that.
"Take for example the setting up of a new air support unit. It should be stressed that the ending of the regional air support unit from next month was the result of decisions taken by the Northumbria and Durham forces. Effectively it left us with no choice but to set up our own unit. However we are confident that it will result in major improvements to the service for our area.
"No rise in bills is ever welcome -- especially at such a difficult time for individuals and the economy as a whole -- but I believe that the relatively modest increase proposed...no more than 11 pence per week for the majority of Council Tax payers...does strike the right balance."