Police commissioner's cuts warning as precept rises by almost £4

The change means band D properties will pay £3.88 more for 2020/21 — a contribution towards policing of £198.04 for the year.

Commissioner Dr Billings said: “I am acutely aware that South Yorkshire is not a wealthy part of the country. We are among the poorest parts of Europe.

“This year, the Government settlement has been sufficient for us to keep the precept to a minimum. 

“However, I do note that there are ever increasing demands on the police force and that in future years they will have to make efficiency savings to keep the precept down.”

Dr Billings’ proposal was approved by the region’s police and crime panel last Thursday.

But Cllr Joe Otten was disappointed by the lack of detail in the precept report compared to council papers which go through budgets “line by line” — and still sometimes only scratch the surface.

He added: “What we have for this meeting is five or six pages. 

“My concern is that we are being told two per cent is the right figure and the details for us to be able to form our own judgements simply aren’t there.”

Dr Billings responded: “It’s a kind of ‘never mind the quality, feel the width’ sort of argument. Behind these sit reams and reams of papers.”

The force expects legacy costs from issues like historical CSE will continue to affect finances until 2024.