The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire has set out his proposal for the 2026/27 Policing and Crime precept.
The proposal, to be presented to the Police, Fire and Crime Panel on Thursday 5 February, would increase the police and crime precept for a Band D property at £335.86, an increase of £15 per year — equivalent to 29 pence per week.
David Skaith, the mayor of York and North Yorkshire said:
“Our emergency services do an amazing job keeping us safe. It’s vital they have the resources to do that well, but I’m also mindful that when family finances are tight, every pound of public money must be spent wisely.”
“Our priority is keeping people in York and North Yorkshire safe. The Chief Constable’s latest assurance letter shows that crime is coming down in key areas with over 1,000 fewer people being victims in the past year.”
“We have doubled the Mayor’s Community Fund for early intervention and prevention, enabling more community projects to stop crime before it happens, support vulnerable people and strengthen neighbourhoods across our region, ensuring people are safe and feel safe.
“In setting the precept, I’ve been focused on balancing the services people rightly expect with placing the minimum possible burden on households.”
Nearly 3,000 people responded to the public consultation, with 66% supporting an increase of £14 or more. The proposed £15 level reflects this majority view while helping the service meet unavoidable cost pressures.
The proposal follows the Chief Constable’s assurance letter outlining continued progress in neighbourhood crime, response standards and visibility. This includes total crime being down by 3.4%, 94% of emergency calls being announced within 10 seconds, and anti-social behaviour being reduced by 15%.
The Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime has pressed the Home Office to ensure national reforms and the government’s policing efficiency programme work for rural and mixed communities like York and North Yorkshire.
Jo Coles, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime said:
“The national funding settlement for policing is challenging, and that makes strong local accountability more important than ever. In line with his mayoral principles, David Skaith, The Mayor and I are focused on ensuring we set a precept that protects our vital public services, prioritises the issues that matter to the public and have the minimum possible burden on council taxpayers. In my role I will continue to hold the police locally to account for delivery of value for public money.
“We have sought clear assurances from the Chief Constable that efficiencies, productivity improvements and modernisation will continue at pace, alongside national efficiency programmes. And we have written to the Home Secretary to ensure that national policing reforms announced this week will protect rural policing and strong local accountability.
“David and I know how important visible neighbourhood policing is in York and North Yorkshire to building public confidence and in keeping people safe”.
If approved by the Panel, the Mayor's office says the additional funding will "help maintain neighbourhood policing teams, support visibility in communities, and sustain ongoing crime reduction efforts across York and North Yorkshire".
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