MORE police officers will be on the beat in local communities under new plans.
The extra police presence will however cost taxpayers on average 83p a month more.
It comes as Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness has agreed plans for the next financial year's policing precept.
The proposed increase will: Deliver a restructure of neighbourhood policing, allocating 134 new officers into specialist frontline roles to take on the fight against crime and help protect the police from the impact of significant budget pressures and spiralling inflation.
The average £15.00 per year for a Band D property precept increase will provide over £6m in extra funds for 2023/24. The plans have been agreed by members of the Northumbria Police and Crime Panel.
Inflation and other cost increases mean police need to find more than £11.7m in savings. This figure would rise to £15.8m if the public chose not to back a rise in the precept.
Kim McGuinness said: “People here in the North East repeatedly tell me they want more police officers out on the streets, in the heart of our local communities, and I’m with them on that.
"To deliver this, we need more money from somewhere.
“Raising the precept really isn’t an easy decision but as police commissioner, I feel I have been forced into a corner on this.
"If government won’t foot the bill, I’m left with turning to local people – the people who care about our region being safe and free from crime. The people who year-on-year are contributing to help fight and prevent crime in the region because government is ignoring our local policing needs up here.
“I’m thankful to the residents supporting the increase, who have acknowledged the economic pressures facing the police and other public services.
"I also more than understand those who weren’t in favour – whose family budgets are facing their own struggles and who don’t believe money to rescue a public service should be coming from their purse."
The precept plans follow a three-week public consultation which included telephone surveys, postal letters and media promotion to gather data.
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