Police consult on budget priorities for 2010/11

Published on 22nd December 2009 12:28pm

This news relates to South Northants Police

Police would like to encourage A series of consultation activities undertaken by Northamptonshire Police Authority over the past six weeks has proven successful with over 1500 people attending to share their views. The consultation activities were aimed

A series of consultation activities undertaken by Northamptonshire Police Authority over the past six weeks has proven successful with over 1500 people attending to share their views.

The consultation activities were aimed at finding out what people think the police and partners should be focusing on in their area and across the county, as well as providing people with an opportunity to ask senior officers and representatives from the Police Authority and partner agencies, questions about crime and disorder issues.

Helen Cook, Consultation and Engagement Manager at the Police Authority, said: "This years consultation has built upon work undertaken in January 2009. We have received feedback through surveys, focus groups and six larger consultation events across the county and we are very grateful to over 1500 people who have taken the time to take part.

"An exciting development in our consultation is the online budget simulator that gives the public the opportunity to suggest which areas of policing the Authority should focus on in the 2010/11 budget. This interactive online tool lets people know the kind of impact increases or decreases in spending would have on a number of key areas of policing in Northamptonshire.

"We have already received lots of responses from the public on what the policing priorities should be, but would welcome more. I would encourage people to get online and have a go at the budget simulator as it will help the Police Authority members in making decisions about where to focus spending. It is very easy to use and can take as little as a couple of minutes to complete."

Deirdre Newham, Chair of the Police Authority, said: "As we have said before, the police are not immune to the impact of the recession. We are going to have to make some difficult decisions when setting the budget this year and the budget simulator will help inform those decisions and ensure the Authority can fulfil its role of acting on behalf of the people of Northamptonshire in ensuring the best and most cost-effective policing for the county."

The budget simulator can be accesses by clicking onto www.northantspoliceauthority.org.uk.