WILTSHIRE and Swindon’s Police and Crime Panel meets next month to decide its position on the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposed precept for 2014/15.

The Commissioner will propose the precept at the Wiltshire Police and Crime Panel on February 6 in the Kennet Room at County Hall, Trowbridge. The meeting starts at 10am, and members of the public are welcome to attend.

The precept is the element of people’s council tax bill which goes towards funding Wiltshire and Swindon’s police service.

The Police and Crime Panel has the power to veto any proposed increase and will make its decision at the meeting.

A two per cent increase would raise an additional £740,000 for the police which would be used to offset the effect of cuts in government grants. “This is going to be a difficult decision for members of the panel and it promises to be an interesting debate,” said Chairman of the panel Coun Richard Britton.