Welcome to the Northamptonshire Police Authority Budget Simulator

Of the council tax you pay 86% goes to Northamptonshire County Council and your Borough/District Council and only 14% goes towards Northamptonshire Police.

Northamptonshire Police Authority is responsible for setting the 127 million pound police budget. Over the next 5 years it is likely the Police will need to make savings of at least 5 million pounds per year to maintain services and adapt to changes in demand and legislation.

We have already put a lot of effort into making savings across the Police Service. Since 1999 we have made savings of 50 million pounds with much of that saving reinvested in services. However these savings will not be enough and we are now having to make some difficult decisions about what areas of policing may receive less funding.

Therefore we are asking you to take a few minutes to tell us which areas of policing we should be making savings, and which areas should receive the focus of the funding we have.

Currently Band D council tax payers in Northamptonshire pay 186.66 pounds per household per year, or just 51p a day for a 24 hour, seven days a week police service. In fact, around two-thirds of our residents pay less than this as they are in Bands A to C.

By clicking on the arrows you can indicate whether you want to raise or lower spending in a particular area. You can also see if you increase spending in too many areas how this could increase the council tax that you will have to pay.

By taking part in the budget simulator you will be helping us decide where funding should be spent and inform the budget setting decisions made by the Police Authority in February 2010. It is vital that we obtain your feedback about the budget, particularly in the challenging financial climate we are now in.

By taking part you can be entered into a free prize draw to win a smartwater kit and other community safety prizes (e.g. timer switches and handbag alarms).

THE CLOSING DATE FOR TAKING PART ON THE POLICE AUTHORITY'S BUDGET SIMULATOR IS THE 15TH JANUARY 2010.

Northamptonshire County Council are also using the budget simulator, please click on the link at the end of this simulator to let them know your views, on which areas they should be focussing their spending.



Thank you for taking part in advance.