WILTSHIRE police are set to increase the rise in its share of council tax by an average of £12 a year rather than just £3.24 following a Home Office decision to lift a pay cap.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, Angus Macpherson welcomed the announcement lifting the two percent increase cap on the policing part of council tax.

This means that Police and Crime Commissioners can now raise the amount by £12 if members of the public agree. In Wiltshire, the PCC was previously limited to a rise of £3.24 per band D household per year.

The proposed increase for 2018/19 is yet to be published but a consultation with residents will be launched on January2 to set the police part of the council tax in Wiltshire and Swindon.

If an annual rise of £12 was agreed then this will see the current contribution of £14.19 per month, per band D household raise to £15.19 per month.

Wiltshire Police was facing cuts of £3m, which would have reduced policing to a minimal service, but if the public supports the one-pound-a-month increase then those cuts would be avoided and current service levels maintained.

Mr Macpherson said, “This is good news for our county. I have been saying that we need more resources to ensure the safety of our county and residents agreed.

“They want more policing and were prepared to pay more. They definitely didn’t want to see further reductions.

“I went to see the Policing Minister personally and have lobbied hard for this flexibility. I am delighted that he has taken what the public has said on board and allowed Police and Crime Commissioners to decide what resources they require for policing.

“I think most people would be prepared to pay an extra £1 a month. This could bridge the gap in funding and give us the chance to ensure that Wiltshire Police continues to perform well.”