Lib Dems Call for Fairer Funding for Police as Local Taxpayers hit with Another Large Rise

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have called for fairer Government Funding for Bedfordshire Police, following its insistence on another large rise in the police precept on council tax on top of the steep rises in recent years.

Following years of severe underfunding, the Government has announced some additional resources for Bedfordshire Police this year, but has made the increase dependent on the maximum council tax rise of 4.95% being levied for 2020/21. This increase follows the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner Kathryn Holloway's 13.8% increase in 2019/20 and the 7.2% rise in 2018/19.

Commenting at this week's Bedfordshire Police and Crime Panel meeting, Liberal Democrat Panel Member Cllr Hilde Hendrickx said: "We welcome any extra funding for front line policing, but I strongly believe it should come from national government. It shouldn't come from a further large increase in the police precept.'

"Also it's unfair of national government to almost hold PCCs to ransom and put a gun to their head as they have to raise the precept to the maximum to get this funding. I don't think that's fair."