RESIDENTS of the Isle of Wight will pay an average of £15 more a year for their police service.

Funding from the government was not as high as the constabulary had hoped for, so now residents are being forced to pick up the bill.

It is promised some of the extra money will pay for 50 more Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary police officers, £9 million of new investment and address the inflationary cost pressures.

The Island will receive a cut of £30 million to upgrade the existing police estate as well as 'new and re-aligned estate' on the Island.

The 6.3 per cent increase was agreed today (Friday) by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Panel.

Bills will rise between £10 and £30, depending on the property banding.

Last year, the precept rose by £10 for a Band D property and it currently stands at £236.46.

The average Band D property will rise to £251.46.

The increase was proposed by the Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, and would support her 'More Police, Safer Streets' plan which included introducing 600 more officers by April 2023.

Through the precept increase, it would take the total of new officers up to 650 by March 2024.

Funding from the government was not as high as the Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Constabulary had hoped for — only receiving a 1.8 per cent increase or £4.35 million.

It has been called a funding challenge as it is significantly below the rate of inflation, which the police force had budgeted £12.4 million to cover.

Other investments will include new technology so police can spend more time in the communities they serve and continue the fight against cybercrime.

The amount payable towards the precept now (and how much it has gone up) is:

  • Band A - £167.64 - £10
  • Band B - £195.58 - £11.67
  • Band C - £223.52 - £13.33
  • Band D - £251.46 - £15
  • Band E - £307.34 - £18.33
  • Band F - £363.22 - £21.67
  • Band G - £419.10 - £25
  • Band H - £502.92 - £30