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14 December, 2018

How much are you willing to invest in your local police and fire and rescue service? Commissioner asks for your view.

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan is asking North Yorkshire residents how much they are willing to pay in their council tax bill for North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Setting the charge known as the precept is part of Julia’s role but, before she does that for the 2019/2020 financial year, she wants to know the view of the county’s taxpayers.

Julia has consulted on the policing precept since she became the Commissioner in 2012 but is consulting on the fire and rescue service precept for the first time this year, following transfer of governance.

The survey, which will be carried out by telephone to a representative sample of taxpayers and online where any resident can have their say, begins today (13 December) and will remain open until 20 January 2019.

Taxpayers will be asked how much they would be prepared to pay per year. 48 per cent of North Yorkshire Police’s funding and 70 per cent of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s funding comes from the precept. The remainder comes from the government.

On policing, there are four options ranging from a precept freeze to an increase of more than £24. On the fire and rescue service, there are also four options ranging from an increase of more than £5.

Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said:

“Policing continues to evolve in North Yorkshire as it responds to the changing nature of crime and demands on our police service. This county remains the safest place in England, but we are facing a series of challenges – from a greater focus on complex crimes like child sexual exploitation and domestic abuse, to the need to invest more in tackling offences that blight our rural communities, and priority areas like burglary and road safety.

“I am also asking for views on the fire and rescue service precept for the first time. It is facing serious financial challenges and I am determined to ensure it has a strong and sustainable future keeping North Yorkshire safe. It currently attends around 6,500 incidents per year from fires to road traffic collisions, flooding to other emergencies.

“It is vital you have your say. I want to know, directly from you, how much you are prepared to invest in our policing and fire and rescue services before I make a decision on the precepts for 2019/2020. Please complete the survey, tell me your views and let me know which of the options you prefer.”

Find out more about your options