Police service to cost more?

POLICE bosses say they face an ‘uneasy’ decision on whether to raise the price people pay for their protection.

Avon and Somerset Police Authority is due to set its budget for 2011/12 today (Weds) on the back of a �40million cut in Government funding.

The 20 per cent reduction in money from Whitehall for the next four years has already resulted in the force making �7million savings. These have been made thanks to a departmental review and reorganisation.

Last week, the force revealed results of a survey which found people were undecided on whether they wanted to pay more for the police service.

Out of 1,203 asked online and on the telephone, 64 per cent of people favoured a council tax increase in a bid to soften cuts.

But at focus groups held in each of the constabulary’s six policing districts, the majority of residents said they would be against any increase.