WOULD you consider paying a little extra in Council Tax to help increase the number of police on our streets?    

That's the question posed in a public consultation taking place on police funding and plans to recruit 40 more officers.

The survey, launched today by Merseyside's Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy, follows the budget announcement in December where the Government said local council precept payers must pay more to avoid further cuts in police jobs.

Ms Kennedy says the rise in Council Tax precept would help protect 100 police officer jobs and recruit 40 new officers.

The increase equates to approximately 31p a week or £16 a year for a Band A household, the lowest Council Tax category but the majority of council tax payers on Merseyside.

She added that the 2019/2020 financial settlement provides an additional £8.4m in government grant for Merseyside Police, but will be entirely consumed by the pension shortfall announced by Government last September.

The settlement provides no new money for the day-to-day running of Merseyside Police, the cost of which increases every year due to pay and price inflation.

Since 2010 Merseyside Police has been required to make cuts of £110m, with an estimated £14.5m still to make by 2022/23.

Jane Kennedy said: "The responsibility for providing the appropriate level of funding for a large urban police force like Merseyside lies with central government, which is why 83% of the Merseyside Police budget is met by general taxation.

"However, the Government are shifting the burden of paying for the police on to the shoulders of local council tax payers.

"This is good news for wealthy counties like Surrey, but bad news for urban forces with less wealthy communities.

"It is a regressive form of taxation. I have little choice but to ask for the increase in the council precept to prevent further cuts.

"I know the public of Merseyside want more not fewer police officers.

"While I am reluctant to ask local people, who are already heavily burdened, to contribute more toward policing, if they are willing to do so it enables me to stabilise the Force’s budget, prevent the loss of 100 more officers and even to replace 40 of the officer posts that we have lost.

"Over the last eight years, the police budget has been cut by £110m.

"This increase would give the Chief Constable an additional £9.8m with which to police Merseyside.

"It does not compare to what we have lost, but it is essential if the Chief Constable is to keep up with the increasing demands he faces."

People are invited to have their say through a short online survey at www.merseysidepcc.info by Sunday, February 3.

Anyone who wants to receive a paper copy of the survey can telephone 0151 777 5155 and one will be posted out.

A consultation roadshow asking people for their views on the proposal will take place at Morrison's in New Brighton on January 29 from 10am until midday.

Jane Kennedy added: "I appreciate that by asking the public for more money, they will quite rightly expect something in return which is why I am promising that if local people are willing to support these proposals the Chief Constable will prevent the loss of 100 police jobs next year and bring back 40 police officer posts.

"I am asking people on Merseyside if they would be willing to contribute that extra 31p a week for the majority of householders to help protect vital frontline police services.

"This would increase the police precept from £118.65 to £134.65 a year for those properties.

"The government have stepped away from supporting our police service, I hope local people will not do the same.”