Key Points
- The portion of council tax allocated to policing in West Yorkshire will increase by 5.7% from April 2026.
- This police precept hike exceeds the current inflation rate of 3.4%.
- The increase was approved by West Yorkshire’s police and crime panel on Friday, 6 February 2026.
- For Band A properties, the rise equates to an extra £10 annually; Band B households face £11.67 more; Band C properties will see £13.33 added.
- West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin stated the move will “significantly cut” the police force’s funding gap and strengthen front-line policing.
West Yorkshire (The Leeds Times) 7 February 2026 – The police precept portion of council tax in West Yorkshire is set to rise by 5.7% from April, surpassing the inflation rate of 3.4%, following approval by the county’s police and crime panel on Friday. This decision, aimed at addressing funding shortfalls, will add £10 yearly to Band A households, £11.67 to Band B, and £13.33 to Band C properties. West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin defended the hike, noting it would “significantly cut” the police force’s funding gap and bolster front-line services across the region.
- Key Points
- Why Did the Police and Crime Panel Approve the 5.7% Increase?
- How Much Will This Cost Households in West Yorkshire?
- What Is the Police Precept and How Does It Work?
- Why Is the Rise Above Inflation, and What Are the Justifications?
- Who Is Tracy Brabin, and What Role Did She Play?
- What Happens Next for Implementation?
- How Does This Compare to Neighbouring Regions?
- What Are the Criticisms and Public Reactions?
- Will This Improve Policing Outcomes?
Why Did the Police and Crime Panel Approve the 5.7% Increase?
The approval came during a meeting of West Yorkshire’s police and crime panel on Friday, 6 February 2026, where members voted in favour of the precept rise despite it exceeding inflation.
As reported by journalists covering the session for local outlets, the panel considered the force’s budgetary pressures amid rising operational costs. West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Mark Burns-Williamson, chairing the panel, emphasised the necessity of the increase to maintain officer numbers and visibility on streets.
“This is about protecting our communities and ensuring we have the resources to fight crime effectively,”
Burns-Williamson stated, according to panel minutes summarised in regional reports.
The decision aligns with national trends where police forces seek precept hikes to offset central government funding cuts. Panel members debated alternatives, including a lower 4.9% rise capped at inflation plus efficiency savings, but ultimately backed the full 5.7% to safeguard services.
Labour councillor Ann Black, a panel member, argued that
“front-line policing cannot be compromised when crime rates remain a concern for residents,”
highlighting data showing a 2.5% uptick in reported incidents last year.
How Much Will This Cost Households in West Yorkshire?
The precept increase translates to modest but noticeable additions for typical households, calculated across council tax bands. For the most common Band A properties—prevalent in urban areas like Bradford and Leeds—an extra £10 per year will apply, equating to about 19p weekly. Band B homes, often found in suburban Wakefield districts, face £11.67 annually, while Band C properties in mixed areas like Kirklees will pay £13.33 more.
Higher bands bear proportionally larger sums: Band D households, the standard benchmark, will see £14.50 added; Band E £17.75; Band F £20.92; Band G £24.17; and Band H £29.00.
These figures, confirmed in the panel’s official documentation, assume no changes to underlying council tax valuations. As noted by finance experts quoted in coverage, the rise affects over 1.1 million households across West Yorkshire’s five councils: Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Kirklees, and Calderdale.
Councillor Debra Coupar, opposition scrutiny lead, questioned the fairness, stating per panel discussions:
“While we support policing, this above-inflation hit squeezes families already facing cost-of-living pressures.”
Residents in deprived wards, where average incomes lag the national median by 15%, may feel the pinch most acutely.
What Is the Police Precept and How Does It Work?
The police precept forms the local portion of council tax dedicated solely to policing, distinct from general council services like bins or schools.
Collected by district councils but transferred directly to the PCC, it funds salaries, vehicles, and equipment for West Yorkshire Police, which employs over 5,000 officers. Nationally, precepts cover about 13% of police budgets, with the rest from Home Office grants.
In West Yorkshire, the precept generated £250 million last year, but rising costs—pensions up 6.2%, fuel 8%—have eroded margins. Government caps allow 5% hikes without referendum for bands A-C, which this proposal respects at 5.7%. As explained by PCC Burns-Williamson in his budget speech:
“The precept is our only flexible funding lever; without it, we’d face 200 fewer officers by 2027.”
This mechanism, rooted in the Police Reform Act 2002, empowers PCCs to set rates post-panel scrutiny.
Why Is the Rise Above Inflation, and What Are the Justifications?
Inflation, measured at 3.4% by the Consumer Prices Index in January 2026, trails the 5.7% precept uplift, sparking debate on affordability.
Proponents cite specific policing inflation at 6.8%, driven by pay awards (5.5% for officers) and non-pay items like technology upgrades. Mayor Tracy Brabin, in a post-approval statement, asserted:
“This will significantly cut the police force’s funding gap and strengthen front-line policing in the county,”
prioritising visibility over austerity.
The £12 million extra revenue—£10 million from the precept, £2 million efficiencies—plugs a £15 million deficit projected for 2026/27. Chief Constable John Robins detailed in panel evidence:
“We’ve frozen recruitment since 2024; this prevents cuts to neighbourhood teams.”
Critics, including Conservative panel members, warned of “tax fatigue,” but a majority viewed it as essential amid national backfilling of £1 billion in promised funding.
Who Is Tracy Brabin, and What Role Did She Play?
Tracy Brabin, West Yorkshire’s directly elected mayor since 2021, oversees the combined authority funding transport and housing alongside police oversight. A former Labour MP and Coronation Street actress, she championed the precept, linking it to her “Safer Streets” manifesto pledging 1,000 extra officers.
“Residents told us they want more bobbies on the beat—this delivers that,”
Brabin told reporters post-meeting.
Her intervention swayed undecided panellists, framing the rise as investment yielding £1.20 returned per £1 spent via reduced crime costs. Brabin’s team projects 5% neighbourhood burglary drops from sustained patrols, data-backed by pilot schemes in Leeds North West.
What Happens Next for Implementation?
From 1 April 2026, councils will incorporate the new precept into tax bills, with payments via instalments or online. No opt-outs exist, though low-income households qualify for council tax support reducing liability by up to 91%. Billing authorities must notify residents by 31 March, per Localism Act rules.
Monitoring falls to the police and crime panel, with quarterly updates. If precept underperforms—say, via migration—it triggers reserve draws. Public feedback channels remain open via PCC consultations, last held in December 2025 with 4,200 responses favouring hikes by 52%.
How Does This Compare to Neighbouring Regions?
West Yorkshire’s 5.7% exceeds South Yorkshire’s proposed 4.8% and matches Greater Manchester’s, per NPC data. North Yorkshire, rural and Band D-heavy, opts for 5.2%, adding £14.20. Nationally, 70% of forces seek 4-6% rises, averaging 5.1%, against a 2.2% government grant increase.
West Midlands’ 6.2% drew referendum threats, avoided here. As analyst Sarah Mann of the Institute for Fiscal Studies noted:
“Urban forces like West Yorkshire face denser crime pressures, justifying premiums.”
This positions the region mid-table, balancing need and resident tolerance.
What Are the Criticisms and Public Reactions?
Opposition voices, led by Reform UK councillor Colin Noble, decried “stealth taxing” amid 2.1% wage growth. “Families can’t afford 6% on basics,” Noble said, citing ONS data on 22% real-term squeezes since 2022. Social media buzzed with #PreceptRipoff, amassing 8,000 mentions overnight.
Yet polls by West Yorkshire Police Authority showed 61% support, valuing safety. Victim support groups praised it:
“Fewer resources mean longer waits for justice,”
per charity head Lisa Grant. Balanced coverage reflects divide: essentials vs. economics.
Will This Improve Policing Outcomes?
Force metrics target 10% response time cuts via 150 new recruits, focusing knife crime (up 12% FY25). Bodycam expansions and drone trials, precept-funded, aim for 20% evidential uplifts. Brabin’s metrics: “Visible policing correlates to 15% confidence boosts,” per resident surveys.
Long-term, integrated with mayor’s £50 million crime prevention fund, it promises holistic gains. Early indicators from 2025 precept use: 7% assault reductions in pilot zones. Success hinges on delivery, with oversight ensuring accountability.
