RESIDENTS are being given the chance to have their say about the future of policing in Wiltshire, including a potential increase in tax.

A new Police and Crime Plan has been drawn up to chart the course for Wiltshire Police over the next four years.

The draft document, launched last week by Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson, sets the priorities for Wiltshire Police between now and 2020.

The priorities include preventing crime, protecting the most vulnerable in society, putting victims, witnesses and communities at the heart of what the police do and securing a trusted, quality and efficient police service.

Mr Macpherson said: “Since I was re-elected last year I have been reviewing the priorities and thinking about the big issues that the communities of Wiltshire and Swindon are facing.

“Chief Constable Mike Veale has given me his professional advice about potential risks and threats, which has guided me in writing my plan.”

Mr Macpherson is also consulting on a proposal to increase the police part of council tax, known as the policing precept, by 1.9 per cent for 2017-18.

That would mean an extra £3.17 a year (or 6p a week) for the average band D property. At present, band D homes pay £167.10 a year.

Out of the 43 forces in England and Wales, only four receive less money per person than Wiltshire, something Mr Macpherson is hoping to change.

“The money I receive from the Home Office equates to £96 per person, the national average is £121 per person,” he said.

“The cost of policing to the people of Wiltshire and Swindon is the lowest in the South West.

“I have been lobbying the Home Office for a better deal for Wiltshire, pointing out that we have been historically under-funded given the logistical challenges of policing such an overwhelmingly rural county with vast open spaces between some of our main communities.

“The proposed £3.17 a year increase would provide me with an additional £792,000 of local income for 2017-18.”

The consultation on the commissioner’s proposals is open until midnight on Friday, January 27.

Residents can read and respond to the draft plan at wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk/Transparency/Plan-and-Precept-consultation-2017.aspx

Mr MacPherson will be answering questions live via his Facebook and Twitter accounts from 6-7.30pm on January 17 and 24. To get involved use the hashtag AskAnguspcc

Residents can email their views or questions to pcc@wiltshire.pcc.pnn.gov.uk or write to PCC consultation, OPCC, London Road, Devizes SN10 2RD.