COUNCILLORS have backed a proposal to increase the police share of the council tax.

Members of the Dorset Police and Crime Panel unanimously backed a proposal from Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill for a 1.98 per cent increase in the police precept.

The rise will cost a mid range band D household £3.80 a year and will add a further £1.07million to the police budget, which has been significantly reduced by cuts in government funding.

Nearly 4,500 residents has already taken part in a consultation exercise where 80 per cent said they supported the proposed increase to help support policing in the county.

Mr Underhill has insisted that the additional funds created by the precept increase will be spent on protecting adults at risk of harm, improving the response to common, non-emergency types of crime and embracing new technology to continue to meet the challenges of modern policing.

He told members of the Police and Crime Panel: "I believe firmly that as a Police and Crime Commissioner I can't ask for an increase in council tax without telling the public what they will get for it.

"I proved last year what we actually asked for last year we delivered and I will deliver again this year."

Mr Underhill said that Dorset Police had experienced real term cuts of £19million in central government funding over the last five years, with cuts expected to continue at a rate of £1m a year for the next three years.

Chief constable Debbie Simpson said: "The public deserves a police service that is able to respond to both high and lower level threat crimes and that's why we are looking at how we are able to do this."

Mr Underhill added: "I would like to thank the 4,485 people who took the time to complete the consultation.

"Even with the increasing financial demands faced by families in Dorset, four out of five of you voted in favour of a rise in the policing element of council tax to support the Force.

"Over the last six weeks I have had the opportunity to hear Dorset residents’ concerns and ideas for the future. I am pleased to say that the issues they identified align with those that this rise will be invested in.

"Protecting adults at risk of harm, dealing with common, non-emergency crimes and embracing new technology to meet the challenges of modern policing require continued development and investment.

"The rise in the policing element of council tax will be invested in these three areas, which are increasingly impacting on residents in Dorset."

Ms Simpson said: "In order to maintain police budgets, Police and Crime Commissioners were asked by the chancellor to request a small rise in the policing element of the council tax.

"Through continued efficiencies, this will enable us to maintain policing services despite reduced overall funding and protect our ability to respond to new threats.

“I formally requested that the Commissioner raise the precept, so I am pleased that both the Police and Crime Panel and the residents of Dorset have supported the proposal."

The Commissioner and Dorset Police Chief Constable have written to the Home Office to express their disappointment with the terms of the 2017/18 settlement.