Mayor plans to raise police tax by £14
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham plans to increase the police element of council tax by £14 for band D properties, citing the need to maintain improvements in Greater Manchester Police (GMP). Band B properties will see a £10.89 rise, pushing their annual police precept over £200 for the first time. Burnham highlights GMP's progress, including faster 999 responses and a 17% reduction in neighbourhood crime, but acknowledges ongoing challenges. The force exited special measures in 2022 but faced criticism over unlawful strip searches under both current and former leadership.
Greater Manchester residents will pay up to £14 more annually for policing after mayor Andy Burnham approved a council tax increase to sustain the force’s turnaround.
The police precept for a Band D property rises to just over £270, while the majority of households in Bands A and B will see increases of £10.89, pushing Band B bills above £200 for the first time.
Burnham defended the hike as “one of the lowest in the country,” pointing to faster 999 response times and a 17 percent drop in neighbourhood crime. “We set out a number of commitments last year on what Greater Manchester Police would deliver with the precept, and they delivered on every one of them,” he said. “GMP are now answering 999 calls in record time, attending incidents sooner and investing in neighbourhood policing and crime prevention teams.”
Deputy mayor Kate Green acknowledged ongoing challenges despite progress since the force emerged from special measures in 2022. The improvement follows Chief Constable Stephen Watson’s 2021 appointment, which came after predecessor Ian Hopkins was forced into early retirement when inspectors placed GMP in special measures. Watson later apologised for “unlawful” strip searches uncovered in last year’s Baird Review, admitting custody standards had been “under pressure” and “not performing to an acceptable standard.”
Source: Read original article