Dorset taxpayers are paying more than ever for police force

Home Office figures show £83.4 million in funding for Dorset Police will come from council tax bills in the financial year 2023-24. 

This is a real terms rise of £3.51 million (four per cent) from the £79.9 million paid in 2022-23, and the highest figure since local, comparable records began in 2015-16. 

Together with £82.6 million from the government, in total Dorset Police will receive £166 million next year – up from £164 million the year before. 

In February, it was reported taxpayers would be paying more money to fund Dorset Police this financial year, with Band D properties forking out an additional £15 for the year. 

However, the Police Federation of England and Wales said police cannot reach “proactive and consensual” standards without the Government ensuring sufficient resources are provided. 

National chairman Steve Hartshorn said: “The proactive, consensual policing that the public rightly deserves cannot be achieved without the government and chief officers ensuring the police service has access to the right resources. 

“Our forces are struggling due to the scarcity of sustained long-term funding. They simply cannot plan ahead in these circumstances.” 

The Home Office said it is “dedicated to giving the police the resources they need to tackle crime”. 

The office of police and crime commissioner David Sidwick said it “always seek to improve how public money is spent”, and pointed out there are legal requirements to ensure money is properly accounted for.

“Every opportunity is taken to ensure funds are used wisely and well and that money is spent with the best interests of the people of Dorset in mind,” the office added. 

“At the same time, the PCC continues to lobby government as the current police funding formula sets Dorset and other rural and coastal counties at a disadvantage and he is absolutely determined to keep raising that fact with those in parliament in order to get a better deal for Dorset.” 

Earlier this year, Dorset police and crime commissioner David Sidwick told a police and crime panel that even with the increase and £4million of savings already identified, there was still the need to find further savings of at least £3.3million in the coming financial year.  

He also said costs and contracted finance agreements were adding £2.5million a year to force bills with another £5.5m in pay awards. 

This financial year, Dorset council taxpayers will pay the following rise:

• A, up from £177.05 to £187.05
• B £206.56 to £218.23
• C £236.7 to £249.40
• D £265.58 to £280.58
• E £324.60 to £342.93
• F £383.62 to £405.28
• G £442.63 to £467.63
• H £531.16 to £561.16