POLICE and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Angus Macpherson is asking people whether they would be prepared to pay an extra £1 a month to protect the police force.

The policing precept consultation, which launched this week, is looking for the views of Wiltshire residents on the proposed increase of £12 a year. Currently a band D household contributes £14.19 per month to local policing, but if residents back the proposal then this would rise to £15.19 per month.

Mr Macpherson said: “As a force, Wiltshire Police has seen the second highest increase in demand across the country in the last year yet the funding we receive from central government doesn’t recognise the increasing pressures our service is under. In fact we receive the fourth lowest funding per head of population in England and Wales.

“Since 2010, Wiltshire Police has received £19m less but have been responding to more crimes and supporting more members of the public year on year.

“Whilst we live in an incredibly safe county, there’s only so far the budget will stretch and we’re streamlining our services to ensure they’re as efficient as possible at the same time as keeping the public safe, but we are feeling the squeeze more than ever.

“Without this increase Wiltshire Police will have to look at further reductions in officers and staff to close a budget gap of around £3mThat’s why I’m asking whether residents in Wiltshire and Swindon would be prepared to pay an extra £1 a month to help bridge this gap.”

The consultation runs until midday on January 31. Visit www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.ukor email pcc@wiltshire.pcc.pnn.gov.uk or use #AskAngusPCC on social media.