MONEY used by the police force is spent “wisely and with the best interest” of Dorset residents, according to the police and crime commissioner’s office.
The office of Dorset police and crime commissioner David Sidwick has said the Conservative PCC continues to lobby the government for better funding for the county.
It comes after it was revealed Dorset residents are paying more for the police now than ever recorded before.
Home Office figures show £83.4 million in funding for Dorset Police will come from council tax bills in the financial year 2023-24 – equating to a £3.51 million rise from 2022-23.
Mr Sidwick’s office said money spent is done so under the prism of the ‘Make Every Penny Count’ priority in the Police and Crime Plan.
It added: “Over the last eighteen months, there has been an increase in investment into strengthening neighbourhood policing, over-recruiting on the police officer recruitment target and bringing in new ground-breaking policing operations such as Op Viper and Op Scorpion to tackle county lines and drug crime.
Read more: Dorset taxpayers are paying more than ever for police force
“Further funding has been ploughed into tackling ASB under Op Relentless, tackling rural crime and investing in new technology for front line officers.
“In the 2023 precept consultation, 74 per cent of the 1,553 respondents agreed that Dorset Police required additional funding.
“The increase in real-terms funding from £164 million in 2022-23 to £166 million in 2023-24 is therefore welcome but, looking at the detail, the amount of government funding coming into Dorset Police has actually reduced from £83.8m in 2022-23 to £82.6m in 2023-24.”
The office said it and Mr Sidwick “always seek to improve how public money is spent”, and pointed out there are legal requirements to ensure money is properly accounted for.
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“Every opportunity is taken to ensure funds are used wisely and well and that money is spent with the best interests of the people of Dorset in mind,” the office added.
“At the same time, the PCC continues to lobby government as the current police funding formula sets Dorset and other rural and coastal counties at a disadvantage and he is absolutely determined to keep raising that fact with those in parliament in order to get a better deal for Dorset.”
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