South Yorkshire promised 228 more police officers after council tax increase approved

South Yorkshire will get an additional 228 police officers after an increase in council tax.

Members of the Police and Crime Panel unanimously approved a seven per cent increase for policing services, proposed by South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings.

Dr Billings said: "If we are to get on top of crime, have a more visible police force and tackle anti-social behaviour, we need more officers. These proposals will deliver an additional 228.

"This builds on the extra 194 I was able to support this year.

“One hundred and forty nine of the new officers are part of the government’s national uplift and 79 are from local resources.

“The consultations I have undertaken have shown that the public supports the proposals with 67 per cent accepting the increase in precept.”

The increase is equivalent to a £15 per year increase for a Band D property. For Band A properties this equates to a weekly increase of 19 pence and for Band B properties an increase of 22 pence. Most properties in South Yorkshire fall within Bands A and B.

Dr Billings explained that whilst he recognises that residents face a difficult time due to the current pandemic which is presenting financial hardship for many families, there is also extra demand on policing.

“I recognise that there will be some families who will be in a difficult place financially next year, not least because of the impact of the coronavirus on jobs," he said. "But I also know that if we are to get on top of crime we need the additional officers.

“The public also tell me of their expectations around increasing the number of police officers in our neighbourhoods and within specialist departments to tackle and prevent crime.

“Over the next three years South Yorkshire Police will have recruited a total of 487 additional officers as our share of the 20,000 the government wants to see recruited nationally, plus a further 220 wholly from local resources.

“Whilst the Government will be providing some funding towards these officers in the form of the Government grant, PCC’s have been told that we have to contribute towards the cost of these extra officers by raising our council tax precept. Doing so will allow me to increase officer numbers, fight crime, support victims and keep the people of South Yorkshire safe.

“However, in order to balance the books, I will still have to ask the force to make substantial savings and I will have to use some of our reserves."