HOUSEHOLDERS in County Durham and Darlington will have to pay 1.98 per cent more for their police service next year.

The precept hike, the biggest possible without triggering a local referendum, is expected to raise £520,000 – the equivalent of keeping 11 police officers in work.

But the Government is cutting Durham Police’s funding by £460,000, a one per cent pay rise for police will cost the force £1.2m and changes to National Insurance and IT arrangements will cost a further £1.5m and £200,000, respectively.

Hence, overall, the force still faces having to make savings of around £3m – and Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg today (Monday, February 1) said he expected to lose 50 police through natural wastage and voluntary exit by 2017, leaving the force with 1,150 officers in its ranks. Additionally, 40 police staff jobs will be lost.

However, the force hopes to recruit 15 new Police and Community Support Officers (PCSOs), taking the total back up to 170, where it was three years ago.

The 1.98 per cent rise for the financial year 2016-17 was agreed by the Police and Crime Panel today (Monday).

The meeting at Durham’s County Hall heard 84.3 per cent of people who had taken part in a public consultation supported the rise. Councillor Peter Brookes said this represented a “clear endorsement”.

The rise will cost Band D householders an extra 6p per week, or £3.22 a year, taking the total charge to £165.95.

For Band A, which includes 55 per cent of households in County Durham and Darlington, the increase will be 4p per week, or £2.15 per year, taking the total charge to £110.64.

Mr Hogg also said he had written to the Home Office asking that Durham Police, recently named the most effective and efficient in the country, be involved in drawing up a new police funding formula.

Ministers were forced to suspend a previous review in November, after it emerged out-of-date figures were being used that would have cost Durham, North Yorkshire and Northumbria police a total of £29m. The Home Office is yet to respond to Mr Hogg’s offer.

County Durham and Darlington Combined Fire Authority is expected to agree a 1.9 per cent rise when it meets on Thursday, February 11, Durham County Council is expected to agree a 3.98 per cent rise on Wednesday, February 24.