Residents across East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire are set to see an increase in council tax as Humberside Police’s precept has been set.
An increase of £18.49 for a Band D property has been approved by the Police and Crime Panel.
For the 2026/27 financial year, Band D properties will pay £313.66, up from £295.17 the previous year. The precept has been increased by a higher than usual rate due to financial pressures, the panel were told.
A report to the panel explains that ahead of setting the new precept level, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Jonathan Evison ran an online consultation to gauge the public’s opinion on potential levels of increase. The consultation gave the options of £9.99, £14.99, £19.99 or £24.99 on a Band D property.
The results of the consultation, which were shared with the board, showed 51% of the 1,796 responses signalled support for an increase of £14.99 or above on a Band D property. However, the most popular individual answer was the lowest option (£9.99), which 37.1% showed support for.
Usually, the Government caps the amount that police precepts can increase in a year at £15 for a Band D property, however the Home Office can grant permission for an even higher increase in some circumstances. The report to the panel states that an application was made to increase the precept by more than £15, “in order to try and maintain existing front line policing numbers, ensure financial sustainability and secure a reasonable minimum level of reserves over the medium-term.”
After receiving the application, the Home Office is said to have recognised the financial pressures in Humberside and approved an exceptional precept increase of £18.50. As the precept has been set at £18.49, almost all of what the Home Office has allowed is to be utilised.
The PCC’s office had hoped to raise the precept even higher. Whilst that exact figure is unknown, it was in excess of £20.
The additional £18.49, which equates to a 6.3% increase in the precept is expected to generate a further £5.5m. However, the PCC told the panel that despite this increase in funding, the force will still have to find money and make savings.
The proposal for a £18.49 was approved by the panel, which is made up of councillors from across the Humber Region. All voted in favour, except two who abstained. These included East Riding Cllr Paul Smith who explained his decision to abstain was not out of disapproval with the proposals, and was rather out of dissatisfaction with the decision making process.
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