The Greater Manchester Police, Fire and Crime Panel has agreed to the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s proposal to increase the police precept for 2023/24 to fund further improvements to policing by £1.25 per month for a Band D property or 83 pence per month for a Band A property – the largest proportion of properties in Greater Manchester
The precept increase, along with the central government policing grant, will fund the establishment of dedicated Neighbourhood Crime Teams in each district to more effectively and proactively tackle the issues that residents said are important to them including burglary, robbery, and vehicle crime.
It will fund the workforce level required to ensure that the significant improvements in 999 and 101 waiting times are maintained and further improved, particularly in respect of 101 as well as Increased capacity and capability of crime scene investigators and digital investigators strengthening opportunities to detect neighbourhood crime and sex offending, including such offences against children.
They will also be Increased numbers of investigators who conduct initial investigations when a crime is first reported, to ensure more timely and effective investigations into offences that have a big impact on our communities like criminal damage and hate crime.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “I haven’t taken the decision to increase to the police precept lightly. Budget pressures caused by record high inflation but without an increase in the government police grant to mitigate it, means GMP needs this additional funding to avoid cuts to vital services.
“I know that many of our residents are struggling with the cost of living crisis but they have also told us they want to see more police in their neighbourhoods, be more responsive to incidents and arrest more people. It is these measures that will help keep our streets safe.
“I would like to thank the Police, Crime and Fire Panel for unanimously backing my proposal which will see GMP continue on their improvement journey and create a force we can all have confidence in.”
