The Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Panel has approved a £15 rise in the policing portion of council tax for the 2026/27 financial year after detailed scrutiny on Wednesday 3 February 2026.

Panel members — including councillors from the five local authorities across the force area and three independent lay members — spent more than three hours examining the Police and Crime Commissioner's proposed budget before voting to accept the increase, equivalent to about £1.25 a month for an average Band D household.

Police and Crime Commissioner Clare Moody said the uplift was necessary to help bridge the gap between government funding and the cost of providing policing services across Somerset, including in Wells and neighbouring areas. Chief Constable Sarah Crew described the increase as essential to maintain resilience amid mounting demand and complex challenges faced by officers.

Panel Chair Councillor Heather Shearer said members understood the case for the maximum uplift but stressed that additional investment must lead to clear improvements in policing outcomes. She said the public needed assurance that confidence in the service would strengthen as a result of the decision.

The statutory report explaining the panel's decision will be published on the panel's website on 15 February 2026, and further panel meetings are scheduled for 17 and 24 March 2026.

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