Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen received the go-ahead from the County’s Police and Crime Panel on 3rd Feb 2022 on her financial plans to boost policing in County Durham and Darlington. The Commissioner presented her proposals to boost local policing which will see 1365 officers by 31st March 2023 (an increase of 90 on the previous year); 146 PCSOs and 1120 police staff.
A busy recruitment programme is already underway and will also see additional call handlers to improve response to 999 and 101 calls for assistance, more staff and investment in information technology and further investment in vital resources such as technology, road safety, and the investigative hub.
The Commissioner’s financial plans to support these improvements have been based on a budget of £148.5M. These figures include an increase in the amount of council tax paid towards policing of £10 this year for the Band D (the average) property. This equates to 19p a week, even less for the majority of households in County Durham and Darlington which are Band A properties, meaning an increase of 13p per week.
Panel members heard that consultation across the entire force area showed that the majority of respondents supported the Commissioner’s proposals.
Top priorities, mirroring the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan, were increased visibility of police officers and PCSOs; tackling drug criminality, anti-social behaviour; better response times; enhancements to road safety; tackling serious and organised crime and improved crime reporting methodology.
After questions and debate, the Panel voted in favour of the recommendation to increase the amount of council tax paid towards policing for an average household (Band D) by £10 a year.
Commissioner Joy Allen, said: “People want to see real community policing on the streets and I am committed to delivering that. There will be an extra 226 police officers on the streets by March 2023 and my budget will support that. I recognise that a visible policing presence is important to law-abiding residents and I am determined to do everything possible to enhance that.” “I’m grateful to all those who supported my proposals and assure them that I will be lobbying the Government for a fairer settlement for County Durham and Darlington in the future, to return police officer strength to 2010 levels. The amount each force receives from the Government varies greatly and this cannot be fair. I will continue to push for a better funding settlement.”
Despite the welcomed boost in officer numbers, the force will still remain short on 2010 levels, with 153 fewer officers on the ground compared to 2010. By comparison, neighbouring forces will have increased their numbers by 190.
Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen
![Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen](https://www.newtonnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Joy-Allen-53-1280x640.jpg)