POLICE and crime commissioner David Keane is asking residents whether they are willing to support and increase to the police precept, to help put ‘more feet on the beat’.

Mr Keane has launched a consultation on increasing council tax policing precept payments by £2 per month for the average band D home.

This would, he says, help Cheshire Police invest in neighbourhood policing and tackle serious and complex crime.

In December, the government announced that Cheshire Constabulary would receive funding to cover unavoidable pressures on policing. but it assumes taxpayers will fund almost two thirds of this through the precept.

Mr Keane said: “The government has recognised that we need more money for policing but it is putting the burden on local taxpayers. Cheshire Constabulary has made more than £60 million worth of savings since 2010 but with non-pay budgets now over stretched, we have a stark choice to either fund this locally or significantly cut policing numbers.”

Residents and businesses can complete a survey before the PCC sets the constabulary’s budget in February.

Have your say at cheshire-pcc.gov.uk by midnight on Sunday, January 27.