Thames Valley Police has £9m less to spend on catching criminals, meaning council taxpayers will help fund the shortfall.
The force’s budget for the year is £622m, with almost half coming from local council tax. A £15-a-year rise for a Band D property — 29p per week — will mean an annual bill of £298.98.
In setting his local policing budget, Matthew Barber, police and crime commissioner for the Thames Valley, said: “Setting the policing budget remains a complex process of balancing priorities and this budget has been particularly difficult.
“Last month, the Government announced the police funding settlement which for Thames Valley Police was £9m less than expected.
“The funding from central Government barely covers the costs of inflation and pay increases and, in a further announcement just days before setting the budget, the Home Office made clear that they would only fund around 40 per cent of the cost of new officers.
“This puts more pressure on local taxpayers and will impact the health of the force’s finances in the long term.”
“I am acutely aware of the financial pressures households are under, however due to this challenging economic environment, I have made the decision to increase council tax contributions by 29p per week for a Band D property.
“This increase will ensure the force can maintain policing levels, keep communities safe and address the policing priorities of residents identified through my ongoing local crime survey.”
He said Thames Valley Police will deliver 53 more neighbourhood police officers this coming year – on top of the 218 extra officers delivered in the last three years.
“Residents rightly expect an exceptional service from Thames Valley Police, and my role is to ensure that this year’s policing budget can deliver this by addressing local concerns and priorities and achieving value for money for taxpayers,” he said.
Chief constable Jason Hogg said: “The council tax precept provides essential additional funding at a time when national police funding remains challenging.
“However, this investment is not guaranteed, and policing continues to face significant cost pressures and difficult choices as we work to balance our budget responsibly.
“We will continue to identify new ways to improve productivity and efficiency, including through innovation and tech-led policing.
“I am grateful to our officers, staff and volunteers for their continued professionalism and commitment as we deliver significant force savings.
“Their dedication ensures we remain focused on building trust, protecting our communities, fighting crime and supporting victims.”
More than 4,800 residents responded to the ongoing local crime survey (January 4, 2025, to January 2, 2026) to help shape the budget priorities.
Participants were asked: ‘If council tax increases, which areas would you most like to see your contribution used for?’ A total of 3,019 people said they wanted more uniformed visibility in the community.
Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter
