Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the impact of inflation on the police precept; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of alternative methods towards providing funding for local police services.

Around two thirds of police funding comes from central Government grants, as well as additional funding for specific purposes like crime reduction programmes. The remaining funding is drawn from a share of council tax known as “precept”. In total for 2022-23, the Government will provide around £10bn of grant funding to PCCs, with up to £4.9bn drawn from police precept.

Setting precept levels is a decision for elected Police and Crime Commissioners, taking into account local priorities. Central Government set upper limits on the amount that precept may be increased each year in England. Any proposed increase above that limit is subject to a local referendum. Council tax policy in Wales is a matter for the devolved Government.