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DESPITE residents across the county saying they would pay more council tax to see police services improve and to prevent cuts in officer numbers, this investment is now under threat.

The Government says Cheshire Police Authority must justify its 'excessive' budget.

This follows a Whitehall decree on Thursday that the average rise for council tax this year is the lowest in 14 years.

Ministers have said they expect the average council tax rises to be substantially below five per cent but Cheshire Police Authority proposed an increase of more than treble at 17 per cent - Lincolnshire proposed the highest precept increase at 78.9 per cent.

While most police authorities met the target, Local Government Minister John Healey announced that Cheshire is one of eight rebel authorities that now could face a cap and has 21 days to make its case to the Government.

Five Cheshire MPs made strong statements of support for the authority's position and Ministers have agreed to meet with them.

Warrington South MP Helen Southworth was among those, saying: "Despite having the lowest precept of any shire force, Cheshire police have taken a very responsible approach to the increase process, including engaging in wide public consultation."

A MORI poll of 2,400 Cheshire residents last November revealed 87 per cent supported a council tax increase of at least £1.50 per month to pay for more policing.

This would equate to £1.6 million for neighbourhood policing and £2.6 million to recruit 54 officers.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police Authority said: "We acknowledge that the Minister has announced the beginning of a process that we thought may happen and that we will in the coming weeks make our clear and compelling case to the Government for setting the budget at the level we did and then await the Government's decision.

"We will be seeking urgent meetings with Ministers to stress the views of Cheshire people and the need for investment to avoid major service cuts as without an increase above 59p (five per cent) a month, we would have to make officer and staff reductions to balance the budget.

"The investment that the people of Cheshire have supported would help to make the people who live and work in Cheshire safer and feel safer."

5:34pm Thursday 27th March 2008

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