Police council tax set to rise for Telford

West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion has warned that families in Telford face mandatory council tax increases following a government funding settlement that he claims falls short.

The funding announcement, made on Thursday, has left the force with uncertainty as full details of the budget are not expected until the new year.

Core grant funding for the area will increase by £5.1 million next year, but the cost of police officers has jumped by £19 million.

This 2.8% increase is below the current rate of inflation, which represents a real-terms cut for local policing.

Officer costs have risen as the government sets pay scales, with an experienced officer now costing more than £76,000 including pension and National Insurance.

To manage the financial pressure, the force has already removed 300 civilian roles during the past 18 months.

Mr Campion is proposing a £15 annual increase for the average household, but he says even this will not be enough to bridge the gap.

“To put it simply, my hands are tied,” said PCC John Campion. “Whilst the Government will claim record uplift of funding for policing, they do not make it clear that it is at the expense of inflation-busting council tax rises.”

He added: “The Government are stripping me of my ability to manage local resources for our communities.”

The PCC has called for urgent clarity on exactly what funding will be available to allow for effective planning.