Have your say on police funding: precept survey 2023/24

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne is inviting residents to provide their thoughts on policing priorities in a survey about the precept, the element of council tax which funds 41% of the Sussex Police budget. 

This survey forms part of the year-round consultation which informs the PCC's decision-making process on the Sussex Police budget and the precept:

"The budgets for all public services have been severely impacted by the huge rise in inflation and fuel costs as well as pandemic-related supply chain issues." 

"Sussex Police already has a Transformation Programme underway looking at all areas of force spending and resources but despite their best efforts, rising costs mean that the force will now need to find up to £17m in savings in the next financial year (2023/24) alone." 

"It's worth reminding ourselves however, just how much progress has been made. Sussex is on track to have 3,089 full time equivalent police officers by March 2023, that's 137 more police officers than we had 10 years ago when I was first elected to the role of Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC)." 

"I've already made it clear that I want Sussex Police to keep all its PCSOs because local residents tell me they really value their presence in their neighbourhoods." 

"We will not know the exact amount that Sussex Police will receive in the Policing Grant Settlement until later in December, but we can anticipate that it will leave us with less than we need without making changes. That is why I may need to ask Sussex households to help by contributing more in their council tax." 

"I know that any increase in household expenditure will be unwelcome and very difficult for some but there are council tax reduction schemes available to those least able to pay more which I will be supporting." 

Until mid-December this year the Government had given PCCs the flexibility to raise the precept by up to £10 a year for an average (band D) household, or 83 pence a month. This would raise £6.4m for the Sussex Police budget. The Policing Minister informed PCCs this week (12th December 2022) that this flexibility would increase to £15 a year for a Band D household (equivalent to £1.25 a month).

This survey is now closed. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Check your Council Tax band here

The Police Budget and where it comes from:

As your elected Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner I am responsible for securing the annual budget for Sussex Police which consists of an annual Government Grant and the police precept element of your council tax (which makes up 41% of the total).

Listening to you: I also determine local policing priorities for the Chief Constable to address which are set out in my Police and Crime Plan.

These priorities reflect what you as residents tell me are important which is why I want to hear from you through this survey.

Rising costs affect us all: All public services face rising costs from inflation which means next year a precept increase could be necessary just for Sussex Police to sustain its current position and meet the costs of pay and price increases.

Preserving Neighbourhood Policing: With higher costs affecting everyone, I know that any increase next year will be challenging. However, if we want to maintain PCSOs who engage with and help protect communities, we will need to consider increasing the precept and I want to hear whether the public still support this.

Households still pay less in Sussex than most counties: The precept you pay in Sussex still receives the 7th lowest amount from council tax whilst Surrey receives the highest. 

Have your say: Please spend a few moments to complete this survey to tell me how safe you feel where you live and what you would like to see Sussex Police focus on or invest in next year.

You can read about the Sussex Police Budget here.