HAMPSHIRE’S Police and Crime Commissioner has welcomed a new government funding settlement, which will see the county’s force get a slice of £970 million in extra cash next year.

However, £500 million of this will come from allowing commissioners to raise their local council tax precept contributions by up to £2 a month for a typical household.

This means locals could pay an extra £24 a year for a Band D property, and PCC Michael Lane has indicated he will be looking to make this tax increase next year – although residents must be consulted first.

It is not yet known how much extra funding Hampshire will get from the government fund.

The new national budget allowance was announced by Nick Hurd, minister for policing, last month. This will see the 2019/20 budget increased to £14 billion.

Mr Lane said: “I want to welcome the Police Funding Settlement for next year – 2019/20 – announced by the Government. It recognises today’s challenges faced by policing, including: increasing demands; greater complexity; and changes in criminal activity.”

“I want to start, as Police and Crime Commissioner, by addressing my prime local responsibilities in relation to local safety and for raising local tax.

“In welcoming the option to raise local precept, I should be immediately clear that there is only one option that I can recommend to the people I serve, with the intention to keep them safer.

“That is to take full advantage of the settlement to protect current police services and use the additional £2 per month option to deliver local safety, through plans devised by the Chief Constable as the operational expert.”

He added if locals support him, the cash will be used to “ensure that locally communities will have the same level of policing support.”