Councillors have approved a hike of more than 9% for the policing portion of council tax bills in two North East counties.
Households across Northumberland as well as Tyne and Wear will see an uplift in the police precept added to their council tax bills this April.
Plans for a 9.45% increase in the charge, proposed by Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Susan Dungworth, were signed off at a meeting in Gateshead on Friday morning.
The rise equates to an extra £12.33 per year for Band A properties and £18.50 for those in Band D, which is the maximum amount allowed by the Home Office after it allowed the PCC exceptional power to put forward a larger rise this year.
Mrs Dungworth told councillors at the Northumbria Police and Crime Panel that she had done “a lot of soul searching” and had initially not wanted to impose such a big rise in the precept, but ultimately decided there was “no other way than to ask people to pay a little bit more”.
The Labour PCC said that, while there had been a national uplift in police funding, Northumbria had lost out and was in a “very challenging” financial position due to the withdrawal of a Home Office grant and a redistribution of money.
Gateshead Labour councillor Angela Douglas, the panel’s chair, said she would write to the Home Secretary to complain about the “raw deal”.
Gordon Stewart, a Conservative councillor in Northumberland, pointed out that the precept rise was well above the current 3.4% rate of inflation.
He added that the public would be “very disappointed” by a proposal that was “putting the burden yet again on hard-pressed council tax payers”.
Mrs Dungworth said that Northumbria’s precept would remain the smallest of any force in the country and that the almost £8 million it would bring in would be used to tackle anti-social behaviour, invest in new technologies and proactively safeguard women and girls.
The PCC, whose role is set to be abolished under major reforms, added: “Although the role of PCC is changing in 2028, right now I have a job to do and that is to make sure Northumbria Police is properly resourced and in the best possible position to deliver for our communities, keeping people safe and offering value for money.
“Police budgets are still reliant on part of their funding being raised through local taxes – and I can’t change that. But people’s views matter, and while I recognise our police force is facing financial pressures, so too are many households in our area. And so, when budgets are tight, there are difficult choices to be made, raising a precept being one and so I am pleased our survey found the majority back proposals for a small increase.
“We have made real progress over the last year, from faster response times to reductions in ASB across all area commands. This demonstrates the impact of sustained investment in local policing.
“Through the Police Reform White Paper published last week, we know the Government has made a real commitment to neighbourhood policing, backed by a funding boost at national level. We can’t be complacent though, ongoing inflation, rising costs and funding changes mean Northumbria Police still faces significant financial pressures.”
Sunderland Labour councillor Lindsey Leonard said she did not want to see such a large precept uplift, but that the funding was valuable and had made a difference in Sunderland through the city’s anti-social behaviour hubs and a crackdown on motorbike nuisance.
The panel voted in support of the increase,with nine members in favour, three opposed, and two abstentions.
The Northumbria Police council tax precept rates will be set at the following levels for 2026/27:
Band A – £142.89
B – £166.71
C – £190.52
D – £214.34
E – £261.97
F – £309.60
G – £357.23
H – £428.68
