THE police and crime commissioner for Gwent launched a public consultation yesterday asking residents how much they are willing to pay for their policing service and for their feedback on his policing priorities for Gwent.

Gwent PCC Ian Johnston is required to ensure that all the people who live in Gwent have an efficient and effective police service and he has a legal requirement to set the police budget and determine the policing priorities for the area.

With this in mind, Mr Johnston officially launched his two-month-long ‘have your say’ consultation survey at his public surgery in Winchestown, Nantyglo yesterday. The consultation asks people for their feedback on three areas of consideration which are; the range of precept (the policing part of the council tax) proposals for next year; his policing priorities for Gwent and and the reopening of local police stations across the area.

Due to continuous funding cuts by the government, Gwent Police will potentially face a deficit of £50.2 million by 2018/19.

The commissioner is required to set the policing precept for 2015/16. The first part of the consultation launched today provides a range of options and asks residents what level of precept setting they believe to be fair and also explains the financial outcomes of those choices.

For example, the average Band D household in Gwent currently pays £203.50 per year or £3.92 per week towards policing. No increase to the precept next year would mean that Gwent Police would suffer a funding shortfall equivalent to the cost of 140 police officer posts. However, an increase of 16.14 per cent (£32.84 per year per band D household) would mean that Gwent Police faces no shortfall.

Mr Johnston said: “I have identified that due to the continual funding cuts that are being inflicted upon Gwent Police by the government I need to increase the amount of council tax collected locally in order to maintain, as far as possible, the policing service provided to Gwent residents.

“I am keen to hear what you think so that my decisions take your views into account when setting the policing precept for next year and reviewing the Gwent Police priorities.”

The closing date for all responses is Sunday, November 30, 2014.

To complete the online version of the survey visit http://bit.ly/gwentpccyoursay. Other formats of the survey are also available on request from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office by emailing Commissioner@gwent.pnn.police.uk . Send all hard copy responses by post to

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Police Headquarters, Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran, Torfaen, NP44 2XJ.