We'll be paying an extra fifteen quid for the coppers

Wiltshire and Swindon's Police and Crime Commissioner is asking residents for feedback on the proposed policing precept for 2020/21.

Conservative PCC Angus Macpherson has launched a survey to collect feedback on policing: what is being done well and where improvements could be made, as well as a proposed increase in the policing element of the council tax.

The suggested increase equates to £15 a year on a band D property.

This follows a recent national government funding announcement which was based on the assumption that all PCCs would increase precepts.

Mr Macpherson warned that if the policing part of the precept is not increased next year, Wiltshire Police would need to find savings of more than £3m and would have to reduce staff.

The extra £15 means that Wiltshire Police will recruit 46 additional officers in 2021/22. The Force is also on track to recruit this year's target of an additional 65 police officers by March 2021.

This will take officer numbers to 1,050 - the highest in six years. The additional 46 officers in 2021/22 would see officer numbers rise to 1,096 by March 2022.

The 'consultation' is open from Tuesday 5 January to Tuesday 2 February.

Further information can be found in the PCCs 2021 Policing Precept video.