Staffordshire Commissioner Ben Adams’ proposed Police precept – the contribution residents make as part of their annual council tax – has been approved by the Police, Fire & Crime Panel, following a consultation with residents about how much they would be willing to pay for the service.
Today, (Monday 2 February), the Commissioner presented to the Panel his proposal to increase the Policing precept by £15 per year for a band D property. This was following a public consultation, completed by 2,370 people, which showed that 53.52% of residents supported an increase to the amount they pay.
Funding for the Police and Fire & Rescue services is made up of a mix of central government grants, combined with the ‘precept’ – the contribution residents make as part of their annual council tax.
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Ben Adams said: “I recognise the pressures facing households and remain committed to keeping council tax as low as possible. However, central government funding is reducing over the next three years so failing to act now would risk service reductions and higher local taxes in the future.
“Staffordshire Police continues to deliver tangible results for residents. Neighbourhood crime fell by 13% between October 2024 and September 2025, with home burglaries down by 24%. Targeted summer patrols across 19 hotspot locations led to over 90 arrests and a 26% reduction in knife crime in those areas.
“Investment in victim care has also paid off. A new victims’ portal has helped deliver an 11% increase in positive victim feedback and improved service.
“Over the past three years, my office and Staffordshire Police have met demanding savings targets through a robust transformation programme. While the force already delivers strong value for money, further efficiencies are needed. A renewed programme will deliver £15m of additional savings next year to protect frontline services.
“Taking all of this into account, I have increased the 2026/27 Police council tax precept by 5.2% — £15 per year, or 29p per week for a Band D property — in line with the referendum limit. I believe this will provide the best possible foundation for Staffordshire Police to continue keeping our communities safe.”
A second meeting of the Police, Fire & Crime Panel will be held on 9 February to discuss the Commissioner’s precept proposals for Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service.
The Panel meeting, together with all the papers presented, is available to watch in full here: Police, Fire and Crime Panel (Police precept) – Staffordshire Commissioner
