PEOPLE will be paying about £1.25 per month more for their local police from April after the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Panel agreed an increase in the force’s share of council tax.

The panel, made up of 14 councillors from the force area and three lay members, considered if an increase of £15 for an average Band D property was ‘fair and appropriate’.

Panel members took more than three hours as they robustly scrutinised Avon and Somerset’s proposed budget and how the funds would be spent.

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Clare Moody presented her budget for 2026-27 at the meeting and told the panel the increase was necessary to bridge the gap between the Government’s funding of the force and the cost of providing a functioning service.

Also attending the meeting was Chief Constable Sarah Crew, who described the uplift as essential to address the resilience of the existing service in the face of complex challenges and increased demand, and to meet the expectations of the public.

Panel chairman Cllr Heather Shearer said: “As we have said in previous years, we understand the arguments put forward by the PCC to take the maximum uplift but that additional investment has to deliver real improvements in the service provided by the constabulary.

“All of our communities need to have confidence in the police, and this will only happen with demonstrable progress, especially in the areas of improvement highlighted by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Service.

“Nobody involved in public service wants to put up taxes paid by local people, but in this case we felt it was necessary.

“Once again this year, the panel was clear that while we knew the precept uplift was essential, the public really need to be assured that positive outcomes will improve across the whole force area.”