EREWASH residents are being invited to say how much they would be prepared to pay to see more police on the streets.
The call has gone out from Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster as she works towards setting the force’s budget for 2024/25.
Policing currently accounts for 11 per cent of Council Tax bills. The Commissioner, who was elected in 2021, pointed to having already overseen improvements in tackling crime.
She said: “We now have more officers than ever before and since 2021 anti-social behaviour across our county is down by 47 per cent, residential burglaries have reduced by 31 per cent and theft by 12 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels.
“But there is still much more to do. We need to protect our performance and continue to invest in prevention and getting more visible police in our community.”
Residents can take part in a brief online survey here.
The Commissioner accepted times are tough, saying: “Rising inflation and increased costs are making life difficult for everybody. Policing is no different.”
But she stressed: “Residents have made it clear they want officers to be provided with the resources, equipment and support they need to do their jobs properly and keep us safe.”
Erewash’s Deputy Leader Councillor Becca Everett, who is the Lead Member for Community Engagement, said:
“Having a more visible police presence in the borough is something we all want to see – but it comes at a cost. We urge residents to give the Commissioner their feedback by taking just a few moments to complete the survey.”