Giles Orpen-Smellie, Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, is responsible for setting the police budget and determining how much residents should contribute towards the policing element of their council tax. As part of this process, he launched a 12-week public consultation to gather input on which areas of policing should be prioritized in the spending plans for the next financial year. The consultation is set to end, and residents are being encouraged to share their views before the deadline.
During the launch of the consultation, Orpen-Smellie acknowledged the financial pressures facing households and expressed concern about the potential impact of a council tax increase. However, he also emphasized the need to maintain the current level of service provided by the Norfolk Constabulary. He highlighted the complexity of his decision-making process, which involves balancing various factors, including input from the community. Orpen-Smellie specifically requested input on which areas of policing and services should be prioritized in the spending plans, and whether residents are willing to pay more to protect these priorities in the future.
In the previous year, the part of council tax designated for policing in Norfolk increased by 5.2%, resulting in an additional annual cost for households. This increase was attributed to the Norfolk force’s struggle to manage rising costs, and Orpen-Smellie faced a difficult decision in preventing cutbacks to areas such as visible policing and detective investigators in response to inflation. Residents are encouraged to visit the Norfolk PCC website, email, or call to learn more about how to participate in the consultation and have their say in shaping the future of policing in the county.
Overall, Giles Orpen-Smellie, as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk, is seeking input from residents to inform his decision on the police budget and council tax contributions. With the public consultation coming to a close, he is urging the community to share their views on prioritizing areas of policing and services, as well as their willingness to pay more to protect these priorities. The previous year saw a 5.2% increase in the policing element of council tax, and Orpen-Smellie was tasked with navigating the impacts of rising costs and inflation on the Norfolk police force. Residents are encouraged to engage in the consultation process through the Norfolk PCC website, email, or phone to contribute to the decision-making process and shape the future of policing in the county.
