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| Hain backs 9.8% police cash rise | Hain backs 9.8% police cash rise |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Former Welsh Secretary Peter Hain says he believes council tax payers would be willing to pay an extra 2p a day to ensure adequate policing. | Former Welsh Secretary Peter Hain says he believes council tax payers would be willing to pay an extra 2p a day to ensure adequate policing. |
| The Neath MP spoke out in the row over South Wales Police's budget rise of 5% raised through council tax. | The Neath MP spoke out in the row over South Wales Police's budget rise of 5% raised through council tax. |
| Chief constable Barbara Wilding wanted almost double that figure - 9.8% - and said she was now faced with looking at cutting police jobs. | Chief constable Barbara Wilding wanted almost double that figure - 9.8% - and said she was now faced with looking at cutting police jobs. |
| Mr Hain said the force was being "crippled" by an "inadequate budget". | Mr Hain said the force was being "crippled" by an "inadequate budget". |
| Ms Wilding said about an extra 2p a day from each council tax payer would help. | Ms Wilding said about an extra 2p a day from each council tax payer would help. |
| Mr Hain said he supported Ms Wilding and called for the budget, which was set by the South Wales Police Authority, to be looked at again. | Mr Hain said he supported Ms Wilding and called for the budget, which was set by the South Wales Police Authority, to be looked at again. |
| Speaking to BBC Wales, he warned of potentially "serious consequences" because of the lack of funding and said MPs and AMs had been told months ago of the budget difficulties. | Speaking to BBC Wales, he warned of potentially "serious consequences" because of the lack of funding and said MPs and AMs had been told months ago of the budget difficulties. |
| "South Wales Police have had to carry the responsibility, compared with the three other forces [in Wales]. | "South Wales Police have had to carry the responsibility, compared with the three other forces [in Wales]. |
| "Significant responsibility for extra duties, whether it's royal visits, whether it's Millennium Stadium occasions or some of the anti-terrorist work that they conduct along the M4, serious crime problems that sometimes happen around the M4 corridor. | "Significant responsibility for extra duties, whether it's royal visits, whether it's Millennium Stadium occasions or some of the anti-terrorist work that they conduct along the M4, serious crime problems that sometimes happen around the M4 corridor. |
| "South Wales Police has got a much heavier policing burden than the other forces - that's not to decry them. | "South Wales Police has got a much heavier policing burden than the other forces - that's not to decry them. |
| Chief Constable Barbara Wilding says 140 police officers may have to go | Chief Constable Barbara Wilding says 140 police officers may have to go |
| "But when you find that South Wales Police's precept [raised through council tax] is £50 a year less than North Wales Police and £30 a year less than Gwent and Dyfed-Powys. And now all Barbara Wilding is saying is let's try and close that gap in a modest way that, as she says, will be about 2p a day for council tax payers. | "But when you find that South Wales Police's precept [raised through council tax] is £50 a year less than North Wales Police and £30 a year less than Gwent and Dyfed-Powys. And now all Barbara Wilding is saying is let's try and close that gap in a modest way that, as she says, will be about 2p a day for council tax payers. |
| "I think we would want that because we want to see all these tasks carried out as well as of course the drive towards more neighbourhood policing to which she's committed." | "I think we would want that because we want to see all these tasks carried out as well as of course the drive towards more neighbourhood policing to which she's committed." |
| South Wales Police Authority, which has been warned by the assembly government to be efficient, refused to grant a 9.8% increase as Ms Wilding had requested. | South Wales Police Authority, which has been warned by the assembly government to be efficient, refused to grant a 9.8% increase as Ms Wilding had requested. |
| It said it reached the "difficult decision" to raise it by 5% so as not to laiden the tax payer with "hefty bills" during the current economic climate. | It said it reached the "difficult decision" to raise it by 5% so as not to laiden the tax payer with "hefty bills" during the current economic climate. |
| The chief constable said legal counsel had now been chosen to look at the authority's decision. | The chief constable said legal counsel had now been chosen to look at the authority's decision. |
| Stations could close | Stations could close |
| Ms Wilding said the force had declared a "critical incident" following the 5% rise and warned it could mean about 140 police officers or 280 police staff could be lost. | Ms Wilding said the force had declared a "critical incident" following the 5% rise and warned it could mean about 140 police officers or 280 police staff could be lost. |
| She is also looking to see if any police stations or buildings can be closed. | She is also looking to see if any police stations or buildings can be closed. |
| She said: "I am not scare-mongering, I am a career detective and used to dealing with facts and evidence - this is the stark reality of the situation". | She said: "I am not scare-mongering, I am a career detective and used to dealing with facts and evidence - this is the stark reality of the situation". |
| The increase in the police precept for South Wales Police, raised through council tax, amounts to an extra 13p per week for a Band D household. | The increase in the police precept for South Wales Police, raised through council tax, amounts to an extra 13p per week for a Band D household. |
| It means the overall policing budget for the South Wales force for the next year will be £248.5m - a 3.4% increase. | It means the overall policing budget for the South Wales force for the next year will be £248.5m - a 3.4% increase. |
| The assembly government had warned that police authorities had to be efficient and the minister did not expect "unreasonable council tax increases" to be imposed on the "already hard-pressed householder". | The assembly government had warned that police authorities had to be efficient and the minister did not expect "unreasonable council tax increases" to be imposed on the "already hard-pressed householder". |
| Would you be willing to pay an extra 2p a day to give South Wales Police what the chief constable says the force needs? Send us your comments. | Would you be willing to pay an extra 2p a day to give South Wales Police what the chief constable says the force needs? Send us your comments. |
| No - residents shouldnt be asked to pay an extra 2p a day. A big shake up of the system is needed. Our Police Force is the most expensive Police Force in the world. Lisa Brown, Bridgend | |
| Get the cops out on foot instead of driving around in expensive BMW'S Mercedes and Volvo's that will save us all some moneyJeff Wiltshire, Neath Neath and Port Talbot | |
| All these services have had millions of pounds of taxpayers money thrown at them over the past few years, now during a recession they should realise that putting extra pressure on the taxpayer isnt right, I get the impression that I'm paying more for someones pension that for the service.Martin, Pontypool | |
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