Our Police, Our Community Survey 2023

Police and Crime Commissioner launches precept survey in South Wales

The Commissioner is responsible for setting the South Wales Police budget and deciding what further funds need to be raised from the additional charge on council tax. This is called the police ‘precept’ and accounts for nearly one half of South Wales Police’s funding, with the rest coming from the Government. 

Feedback will help the Commissioner decide what the public will pay for policing through their council tax.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael, said: “In setting the precept, it is important for me to consult local taxpayers to understand public sentiment in terms of how much they are willing to pay for policing in South Wales.

“The financial pressures that many households are under is a big problem, but the same financial pressures which affect ordinary people, such as vehicle and household fuel price increases and supply chain costs, have hit police budgets very hard indeed over the past few years thanks to the Government’s ‘flat cash’ approach to police funding. They have shifted, and continue to shift the burden of policing from central government to local taxpayers. That gap in funding has to be bridged somehow – we have a legal responsibility to balance the books.”

“The grant for policing in England and Wales is announced by a Home Office Minister just before Christmas. I then have to determine the budget and notify the Police and Crime Panel of my proposed precept by February, 2024.

“South Wales is one of the safest areas to live and work in the UK but the intense pressure on policing and other services makes it necessary to give very careful consideration to the level of council tax needed to support communities and address emerging crime threats.

“In setting the precept for 2024 / 2025 I will do everything that I can to balance affordability with ensuring that South Wales Police has the funds to carry on keeping communities safe.”

PLEASE SPARE A FEW MINUTES AND SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK BY TAKING PART IN OUR SURVEY: 

English Survey 

Welsh Survey  

Easy Read Survey

If you would like a paper copy of the survey, please contact us by: 

E-mail - engagement@south-wales.police.uk 

Phone - 01656 869 366

Post - South Wales Police & Crime Commissioner, Police Headquarters, Cowbridge Road, Bridgend, CF31 3SU. 

This survey closes on Monday 18th December 2023