Cheshire residents face an approximate five per cent hike in the amount they pay towards policing.

The increase, which was rubber-stamped by the police and crime panel today, will mean an extra £14 a year on the police precept for a band D council tax payer across the county.

Cheshire's police and crime commissioner Dan Price (Lab) told the panel at a meeting that was the equivalent of 27p per week for a band D.

Dan Price, Police & Crime Commissioner for Cheshire. (Photo: PCC)

"And I have to stress that we know that two thirds of the homes in our county are actually bands A to C, so for the majority of our residents, it will be less than that," he said.

The commissioner said Cheshire Police ranks within the top five forces nationally for charge and outcomes rates and 67 per cent of the people who had responded to the consultation had agreed to £14 or more.

"Without additional funding afforded through the precept increase, substantial and additional savings would be required, and the level of service currently provided by the constabulary could not be maintained," said Mr Price.

"When I was elected as the police and crime commissioner, I pledged to ensure that every person in Cheshire felt safe, valued and confident, that when crime is committed, justice will be served.

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"I am dedicated to ensuring that every voice is heard and that communities receive a policing service they expect and deserve."

Cllr Martha Lloyd-Jones (Halton, Lab) said: "I'm still disappointed, because every year I come here and the police precept has been increased."

She said in her nine wards figures on the police website showed there was 23 local PCSOs and PCs instead of 36.

Gemma Shepherd-Etchells said there are less PCSOs in areas such as Halton, Macclesfield, Ashley.

"I think for some people, it will be quite difficult to see the police precept going up, whilst their perception of the police on the streets who know their areas, the PCSOs, their visibility and the policing function that they are providing to them every day is going down," she said.

Mr Price said he would speak to the chief constable regarding Halton.

With regard to comments made by Mrs Shepherd-Etchells, he said: " I accept that there has been a slow reduction in PCSOs but that has not meant that that role has gone completely.

"That should be getting replaced by a PC. We've got 122 wards across the whole of the county. There should be a PC in every single one of them, or a PCSO."

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Cllr Mike Jones (CWAC, Con) said the commissioner had put together quite a coherent plan with a financial backing.

"So, in that sense, I'm pretty supportive of that as a way forward," he said.

Cllr Jones said the commissioner had made quite a number of commitments including tackling violence against women and girls and reducing knife crime.

He proposed the panel support the £14 precept rise on the condition the commissioner provided members with a quarterly report 'so we can actually track whether you're delivering against your promises'.

The panel unanimously backed the £14 precept increase for a band D property, taking the annual payment to £276.94.