Norfolk's PCC wants to hear from residents as she launches Police Budget Consultation
Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Sarah Taylor, has launched her public consultation concerning the proposed budget for policing for 2026/27.
Following discussions with Norfolk’s Chief Constable, Paul Sanford, the PCC is asking residents whether they would be prepared to pay an increase in the policing element of their council tax to meet inflation-related cost pressures, nationally agreed salary increases, pension liabilities and the requirement to recruit and train new officers.
It is a statutory duty for the PCC to set the police budget and balance the books, and with this responsibility, make the decision on how much residents of Norfolk should pay.
The PCC’s consultation will run until 5pm, Friday 5 December.
This financial year (2025/26), £201.3 million (88.1%) is being spent on officers and staff, with the remaining £21.6 million (11.9%) spent on everything else, including maintaining buildings, vehicles, fuel, equipment, computers and training. This supports every aspect of policing, from the visible front lines of neighbourhood policing teams to the many roles and operations behind the scenes that make possible those investigations into complex case areas like County Lines drug crime and online fraud.
In the consultation documentation published today, Sarah said: “All of these areas need robust funding. At the same time, the demands on police time and resources continue to grow. There has been a welcome increase in the reporting of violence against women and girls that is helping us to get to grips with this critical area. The collection and processing of complex digital evidence is costly and difficult, and the ongoing challenges of addressing rural crime in the more sparsely populated parts of Norfolk are significant. On top of this, Crown Court backlogs create a huge and enduring need for the Constabulary to support victims.”
The law allows PCCs to raise the policing element of council tax to meet increased demands and costs, up to a maximum amount, before a local referendum is required. Last year, the increase was £14 (£13.95) per year for a Band D property. If the same increase were to be used for 2026/27, this would leave the constabulary with a shortfall of £1.9m against the police’s current spending plans.
Sarah said: “While I am awaiting confirmation of the Government’s spending plans, the Government has allowed me to request the maximum increase, in order to support the maintenance and improvement of policing in Norfolk. Based on last year’s maximum allowed by the Government, this would mean an increase of £13.95 per year for a Band D household.
A 4.23% rise equates to £13.95 a year or 27 pence per week for a Band D property and £10.85 or 21 pence per week for a Band B property.
“Earlier this year I launched my Police and Crime Plan, which was built on my consultations with residents and businesses across Norfolk. With the Constabulary, I am working to deliver the things that people asked me to prioritise, including a much stronger focus on prevention to tackle anti-social behaviour, drugs and knife crime, and more support for victims who have been let down by the court system.
“The outcome of this consultation on council tax precept setting will have a direct impact on the extent to which these priorities can be delivered over the coming year.”
More information and the consultation survey can be found here
Link to the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan
People can also take part and request a printed survey by getting in contact with the Norfolk PCC office in the following ways:
Post: OPCCN, Jubilee House, Building 7, Falconers Chase, Wymondham, NR18 0WW
Telephone: 01953 425657
Email: opccn@norfolk.police.uk