THE council tax precept for policing could be set to increase in new plans.

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion launched the consultation into proposals for his 2021 budget, and council tax could increase by £15 a year.

The proposals will see an additional £1.25 added onto the police precept section of the tax each month, with Mr Campion saying it will increase the “visibility and accessibility” of the police.

In February, Mr Campion will be setting his budget which not only funds the police force but also the commissioning activities that help support crime reduction and victim services.

He said: “I promised to listen to you, the public, and it is loud and clear what you want – a police force you can rely on, a police force you can access when you need help and a police force that is able to tackle the crimes you care about.

“To deliver this, and to maximise the effect of the additional police officers, I need to ensure West Mercia Police has the appropriate resources. Asking the public to pay more is a decision I don’t take lightly.

“We therefore need to be able to adapt and ensure the resources are there to not only deliver an effective and efficient police service, but also meet the needs of the communities.”

The money is part of further powers for PCCs announced by governments, including allowing them to propose a £15 increase, which works out at £1.25 a month extra for a Band D household.

Mr Campion added he is also planning to focus police resources on tackling issues which cause the most harm, including domestic abuse, anti-social behaviour on local roads and improved training for officers.

This will include a greater emphasis on prevention and providing extra support for victims of crime.

Mr Campion added: “This year has been a challenging one for everyone, including within policing, and we know that these challenges will continue into the coming year. Your views are important to me and are central to the decisions I make.”