THE police and crime panel has backed a call for an increase in Hampshire's council tax precept to help fight crime.

Simon Hayes, police and crime commissioner for Hampshire, has proposed a 1.99 per cent increase.

Mr Hayes said: “The police and crime panel has made the right decision by supporting the 1.99 per cent increase I proposed.

“Through the precept consultation exercise, members of the public have clearly told me that they agree with my commitment to protect neighbourhood policing.

“This is only possible through retaining frontline policing, which has been put at risk due to £80m government imposed cuts since 2010.”

Currently 34 per cent of the total policing budget comes from the council tax precept.

Meanwhile, time is running out for Dorset residents to have their say on the policing precept for 2015/16.

The public consultation survey is set to close on Saturday lunchtime.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill said: “I have sought to balance the needs of our police service with the demands on families across Dorset.

“I am proposing to freeze the precept for the next financial year, however it is important that I collect people’s views in a public consultation which I will then feed back to the Police and Crime panel so I can make a considered decision.”

To take part in the survey visit surveymonkey.com/s/DorsetPrecept15.

For hard copies call 01202 223966 or email pcc@dorset.pnn.police.uk.