People in Kent are being asked how much more they would be prepared to pay to fund our police force.

That is the question being asked by Matthew Scott, the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, as he launches his budget consultation for the year 2025-26.

Mr Scott said: “It is my responsibility to ensure that Kent Police has sufficient resources to prevent and investigate crime, to support victims and to protect our communities, be they urban, rural or coastal.

“We now have more officers in Kent than ever before; our call-handling service is among the best in the country and we have cut crime by 13% since 2019.

“But costs are rising, and on top of that, we have to pay increased National Insurance contributions.

“So I will have to make difficult decisions in order to fund the services that you, the public, consistently tell me you want.”

The government has agreed to fund Kent Police with £273.7m, and Mr Scott has the flexibility to raise the police precept of the council tax by £14 a year - or £1.16 per month - for a Band D property next year.

That increase would help raise a total of £182.9m from the precept.

Currently, those in the average Band D property pay £256.15 a year towards the police. A £14 rise is the equivalent of a 5.5% increase.

But, said Mr Scott: “Even with this increase, Kent Police will have a shortfall of around £10 million.

“If we raise the precept, we can hope to maintain the level of service you expect and deserve.

“Although the force will of course still have to make significant savings.”

He is asking the public to respond to an online survey, saying whether they are happy to pay the extra £14 a year, unhappy but accept that it is necessary to pay, or don’t wish to pay any extra and are prepared to put up with a lower level of service.

You can complete the survey here.

Kent Police have been particularly busy in the run-up to the Christmas period.

A focus on domestic abuse and violence against women resulted in 124 arrests.