Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe is asking people across Warwickshire about their priorities for policing for the year ahead and for their views on the Police Precept – the part of Council Tax which funds Warwickshire Police.
The ‘Your Police, Your Views’ survey forms an important part of the budget setting process for policing for the next financial year. The responses gathered will help to inform how the budget is structured, to make sure Warwickshire Police continues to meet the needs of local people.
Just under half of the total budget for policing came through Council Tax in 2023/24, helping Warwickshire Police maintain its record number of 1,100 police officers, as well as funding a number of improvements to the service it delivers to the public, including:
- The introduction of a new policing model, featuring three geographical command centres in the North, South and East of the county, bringing together key areas of policing that are best delivered locally.
- New Patrol Investigations Teams with responsibility for investigating many of the crimes that do not meet the threshold for CID investigation but still negatively impact people’s lives.
- Specialist teams to focus on high-risk crime such as domestic abuse, rape and serious sexual offences, human trafficking, online child sexual exploitation and digital media.
- Additional resources for call handing to improve the customer contact experience and reduce wait times.
- The provision of resolution centres where members of the public can speak face to face with officers and staff, with longer opening times over 7 days each week at Nuneaton, Leamington, Rugby and Stratford.
In addition, Mr Seccombe has introduced three enhanced commissioned services helping victims of crime, including specialist support for those affected by sexual abuse and violence and child exploitation. A further three new commissioned services provide support for the victims of modern slavery and human trafficking and those affected by fatal and serious injury collisions on our roads, alongside an expanded restorative justice service.
Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe said: “The support of the public through the Police Precept has enabled these improvements to be delivered over the last year, allowing Warwickshire Police to maintain record police officer numbers and make the best use of its expanded workforce to improve services for the public and give greater support to victims of crime.
“I’m keen for Warwickshire Police to continue to improve the service it provides, while remaining focused on the things that matter most to local people. That’s why I have launched the ‘Your Police, Your Views’ survey to get feedback on what people think policing should focus on and whether that has changed in the past year.
“The results will help me as I begin to develop a budget for policing for the year ahead. This involves a delicate balance of sometimes competing priorities, which is why people’s views are so important. I know that pressures remain on everyone’s finances, with inflation remaining high and other increases in the costs of goods and services meaning the money we have available may not stretch as far in the year ahead.
“That’s why I need to get a clear idea of people’s views on which priorities are most important to help establish what amount of funding may be needed, before balancing that against what is fair and affordable. Every response to the survey therefore matters and I am keen for as many people in Warwickshire as possible to give their feedback.”
The ‘Your Police, Your Views’ survey will run through to Friday 22 December and can be found online at www.warwickshire-pcc.gov.uk/yourviews. Paper copies of the survey are also available on request by contacting the Commissioner’s offices in Warwick on 01926 733523.
You can find more information on how Warwickshire Police is currently funded and how the Police Precept is used here: www.warwickshire-pcc.gov.uk/counciltax.
