Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner has launched a survey asking local residents for their views on the funding they pay towards policing and community safety.
This survey will take approximately 5 minutes and have a maximum of 10 questions.
The Commissioner recently unveiled his Police and Crime Plan 2024-29 which focusses on the key concerns of residents across the force area. Now he is working to set a budget that will provide the Chief Constable with the appropriate resources to deliver on priority areas including neighbourhood policing, violence against women and girls and services for victims of crime.
As part of that process, he is asking people for their views on the amount of council tax they pay towards policing, victim support, crime prevention and community safety, known as the ‘Policing Precept’.
Message from Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw

As your elected Police and Crime Commissioner, one of my most important jobs is to set the budget for your policing service for 2025/26, and I would welcome your views.

As the PCC , I am responsible for ensuring the Chief Constable has the resources necessary to police Lancashire in the way you expect. Police funding comes from two main sources, with approximately 69% from central government and the rest from the amount you pay towards policing through your council tax (known as the precept).

Our central government grant has not kept pace with inflation since 2010 and we no longer receive capital funding to invest in buildings, technology or vehicles. There are also higher demand pressures than our central grant provides.

The Government sets a cap on the amount of money that Police and Crime Commissioners can raise through the precept each year. The Government announcement of £414 million funding for Lancashire in 2025/26 is based on a suggested increase of £14 a year, the equivalent 27p per week for a band D, or 18p per week for a Band A property.

I understand that this is a difficult time for the country with the increased cost of living affecting all of us. This is also reflected in financing our police service. The 2025/26 policing budget will be set against the backdrop of a challenging economic environment with inflation, pay, utilities and insurance costs all higher than in previous years.

For these reasons, it is more important than ever that the money you contribute towards policing can work harder to sustain and improve services.

Specifically, income raised from the precept 2025/26 will be used to deliver the new priorities in my Police and Crime Plan, following consultation with residents of Lancashire. These include:

· Strengthening neighbourhood policing, increasing visibility on the streets, preventing crime and anti-social behaviour.

· Tackling violence against women and girls including dedicated victim support for domestic abuse, rape, sexual offences, and stalking.

· Getting tough on serious violent crime, including knife crime, abuse and exploitation.

· Improving public contact and standards in policing
Thanks to your ongoing support we have been able to invest in key areas to retain Lancashire's position as a top performing force. In November 2024, Lancashire Constabulary were judged as good for efficiency in the use of their resources by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, therefore residents can be assured that any investment made will be maximised to achieve the best possible outcome for Lancashire.

Please share your views below. Alternatively, you can email commissioner@lancashire-pcc.gov.uk to request a paper copy. All views will be considered before making my final recommendations to the Police and Crime Panel.

Thank you for your continued support.

Clive Grunshaw

T