This a chance for residents across Cheshire to have their say on what's happening in their communities, their experience with the police, and how they view their police service in general.
The survey is being posted out to every household in Cheshire and it’s also available to complete online at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/5P75ZBS
This in-depth survey is being carried out by the Police & Crime Commissioner who controls a budget of over £240 million, he sets the policing element of residents’ council tax (police precept), and sets out the public’s policing and crime priorities for the Chief Constable to deliver in order to keep Cheshire communities safe.
This is a big role. It’s important that residents understand what their Commissioner does and that they have a big say in how policing is delivered in their communities.
In the survey, he is also asking people for their views on the police budget. Over 40% of Cheshire Police’s budget comes from the police precept and they have estimated that a small rise will be necessary to keep the police at a standstill.
But he want to know whether residents would be happy with this, or whether they feel our police service needs more in order to deliver on their priorities.
For example, every extra 5p per week paid through the police precept above this standstill would raise an extra £1 million. That would mean with every extra 5p per week Cheshire Police could provide:
- 5p per week: 18 Officers, or 22 Intelligence Analysts, or 25 Call Operators
- 10p per week: 36 Officers, or 44 Intelligence Analysts, or 50 Call Operators
- 15p per week: 54 Officers, or 66 Intelligence Analysts, or 75 Call Operators
- 20p per week: 73 Officers, or 89 Intelligence Analysts, or 100 Call Operators
The feedback he receives here will inform his police precept proposals which he will take to the public early next year.
These are big decisions, and the Autumn Survey is designed to give every resident an equal opportunity to have a big say in how our police service protects them.
If you’d like a hard copy of the survey, please email pcc@cheshire.police.uk