Council tax increase to support Hampshire policing goes ahead

A council tax increase to bolster police funding in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will go ahead.

This means, for example, Band D households will pay £2 more a month under the changes.

The money will go directly to supporting local policing.

The increase in council tax will differ for each household depending on the band they are in.

The rise in the local council tax precept is expected to raise £16 million.

76% of people who took part in a public consultation gave their support to the plan.

It was given the green light by Hampshire County Council's Police and Crime panel on Friday afternoon.

It comes at the same time a council increase was approved to support policing in the Thames Valley.

The Thames Valley Police budget has been cut by £101 million across the last eight years, resulting in job losses on the front line.

The force will need to save around a quarter of its budget in the next three years.