{"id":3982,"date":"2018-12-20T15:40:48","date_gmt":"2018-12-20T15:40:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sypfcopperconnection.co.uk\/?p=3982"},"modified":"2018-12-20T16:56:43","modified_gmt":"2018-12-20T16:56:43","slug":"extra-council-tax-cash-for-police-is-a-step-in-the-right-direction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sypfcopperconnection.co.uk\/?p=3982","title":{"rendered":"Extra council tax cash for police is a ‘step in the right direction’"},"content":{"rendered":"

RAISING extra cash for South Yorkshire Police through a council tax hike is a \u201csmall step in the right direction\u201d, the force\u2019s Federation has said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This month the Government announced the police would receive an uplift of up to \u00a3970m\u00a0for 2019\/20, but critics have said this amounts to little more than a \u201csticking plaster\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Steve Kent, South Yorkshire Police Federation Chairman, said: \u201cThe increase a start, however I think firstly the funding will mostly come out of increased council taxes, the way I understand it, which will affect the local people of South Yorkshire.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere needs to be a new approach by central government. Yes, the figure that\u2019s been quoted seems like a lot of money but when you divide it up nationwide it suddenly doesn\u2019t seem to be as much of a game changer. It is a small step in the right direction and if nothing else it does indicate a potential change in the attitude from central government. But more needs to come, in my view.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Figures suggest that if every\u00a0every\u00a0PCC raises their council tax precept by \u00a32 a month, or \u00a324 a year, the service will gain \u00a3509m.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Steve added: \u201cFor that extra cash each month, people are going to expect to see more and that\u2019s not going to equate to what more is going to come. So I think this announcement is raising public expectation falsely.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a3153 million of the total will go towards the police pension deficit, the Government announced.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

John\u00a0Apter, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said:\u00a0\u201cIt is good that the Government has\u00a0recognised\u00a0that the pension cap breach was of their own making and the other funding will give forces some breathing space.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut it is their austerity policies which have seen police budgets slashed by 19% in real terms. This is why policing is in crisis and our members are on their knees trying to keep up with the rising tide of crime with nearly 22,000 fewer officers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe reality is that this new funding won\u2019t lead to hundreds more officers on the streets and PCCs and Chief Constables have to be honest about that. This is a standstill policing budget \u2013 it will plug the gap to a degree but householders are unlikely to experience a tangible improvement in their area.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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