HAMPSHIRE residents are being urged to share there views as council tax could increase to cover policing costs.

The Government is giving Police and Crime Commissioners the flexibility to increase the policing precept of the council tax in 2022 by £10 per year to fund the increasing demands on policing.

For Band D properties this would be an increase of 83p per month and for Band B properties, this would be an increase of 65p per month or £7.77 per year.

Now Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones is asking residents to give their thoughts as part of the annual police budget precept consultation.

Commissioner Donna Jones said “As your Police and Crime Commissioner I am committed to ensuring that your police precept is spent wisely and delivers best value for money.

"I am committed to reducing wasteful spending across policing, to ensure we employ the maximum number of police officers possible.

"Your support of an increase in the policing precept for the year ahead, will be spent on increasing police numbers in order to detect more crime and improving our police service."

Proposed annual contributions to policing for 2022/23 are planned to be £157.64 for Band A, 183.91 for Band B, £210.19 for Band C and £236.46 for Band D.

Band E properties could see a council tax charge of £289.01, Band F could see £341.55, whilst Band G and H are proposed to be £394.10 and £472.92 respectively.

Commissioner Jones added: "Through the increased visibility of neighbourhood police officers, I want communities to be safer and feel safer too.

"With more police officers and better budgeting you will see greater focus on tackling the crimes that matter to you like: anti-social behaviour; scams and fraud, as well as greater targeting of rural crime and tackling serious violence and knife crime."