Rise in Police Precept

Antoinette Sandbach and a number of Flintshire Conservative Council Candidates attended a Police Authority meeting in Holywell to discuss proposed rises in the Council Tax Police Precept. The Police Authority stated that the settlement from the Home Office meant that there would have to be further cuts in backroom staff including in the areas of child protection. The result would be that the police "would not be able to provide files to the Crown Prosecution Service quickly enough".

Antoinette Sandbach asked the Police what explanation they had received from Tony McNulty as to why North Wales Police received £25 per head less than Gwent and South Wales Police. The answer was "None". A member of the Police Authority stated "Labour didnt listen. We briefed them all last year". Local people were also told that the grant for rural areas had not been increased since 2000 meaning substantial cuts in real terms.

Antoinette said "This is yet another stealth tax from Labour. They are taking more in taxes and expect local people to pay more through their council tax. The Home Office needs to give North Wales Police a fair deal"