Step down instead of forcing through 9% Council Tax rise, Northumbria Police Commissioner told

Councillors in Sunderland are urging the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner to step down, stop drawing a salary and to wind-up her office instead of imposing the biggest possible Council Tax rise on local people.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner is today proposing to increase her share of Council Tax bills from April by 9.45% - the maximum amount the Government will allow.

The Commissioner blames a ‘shortfall’ in government funding for the decision.

But opposition Lib Dem councillors on Wearside say instead of clinging on until the office is abolished in 2028, the Commissioner should immediately stop drawing a salary, lay off her Deputy and wind-up her office.

The money could be directed to frontline policing instead of hiking Council Tax bills to the maximum amount.

Commenting, Lib Dem Deputy Leader of the Opposition on Sunderland Council Heather Fagan said:

"Everyone wants our police to be properly funded. This is going to be really difficult because this Government’s new age of austerity shockingly means they aren’t giving enough money to Northumbria Police.

“The police commissioner should do the decent thing, effectively resign now by stopping drawing a salary and winding-up her office. This would free up millions that could go back into frontline policing instead of hiking Council Tax bills for local people.

“This is common sense and will save taxpayers paying for salaries, staffing budget and office costs that will be used between now and 2028 on a job which the Government admits is pointless.”

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