So, under the leadership of Cheshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), residents are now being asked to swallow a 13.9% rise in the policing precept for 2026–27 - amounting to nearly £40 extra for an average Band D household.

I believe this proposal is excessive, poorly justified, and risks further eroding public confidence at a time when families are already under intense financial pressure.

Only last year, the PCC increased the precept by £14 for Band D properties, arguing at the time that it would "enhance neighbourhood policing".

Fast forward twelve months, and residents are now confronted with an increase almost three times larger, both in cash terms and percentage.

A jump of nearly 14% in a single year is not incremental budgeting – it is a shock to household finances. Why? Because Dan Price decided to cut neighbourhood policing by making 60 PCSOs redundant.

After facing backlash, he has U-turned on that decision and is now trying to save face – but you're the one picking up the tab for it.

The PCC's consultation materials frame this rise as unavoidable, pointing to inflation, pay awards, and rising operational costs.

Yet other Police and Crime Commissioner's, Conservative and otherwise, face exactly the same pressures and are making difficult choices to limit council tax increases.

The question residents are rightly asking is: why is the Labour PCC reaching straight for taxpayers' wallets rather than demonstrating tougher financial discipline?

There is also a troubling lack of detail about what residents are getting for this additional £40 other than saving PCSOs.

Broad commitments to "protect neighbourhood policing" and "maintain service levels" are not enough. Without clear and tangible outcomes, this proposal risks looking less like investment and more like a funding gap being papered over.

Cheshire is consistently described as one of the safer counties in the North West. That is something we should be proud of, but it also raises legitimate questions about value for money.

If outcomes are already strong, residents deserve reassurance that efficiencies have been fully explored before such a steep rise is imposed. There is little evidence in the consultation that alternative options – such as deeper savings, collaboration, or prioritisation within existing budgets – have been seriously pursued.

This proposal also comes at a time when many households are still struggling with high mortgage rates, energy bills, and everyday living costs.

Council tax is a blunt instrument; it hits pensioners and low-income households just as hard as wealthier residents. A near £40 rise in one year may seem manageable on paper, but for many it is another unwelcome bill they simply cannot absorb.

Policing is vital, and Conservatives have always backed strong law enforcement and properly resourced police forces.

But supporting the police does not mean giving Labour a blank cheque. Responsible leadership means balancing public safety with affordability, transparency, and value for money.

The Labour PCC should go back to the drawing board, rethink the scale of this increase, and present residents with a more reasonable, better-evidenced proposal. Cheshire's taxpayers deserve nothing less.

And you can have your say here.