Colleagues,
We wanted to share with you the letter sent to the PFCC Ben Adams in respect of the Police Council Tax Precept for 2026/27.
Our letter is as follows:-
Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire 20th January 2026
Dear Commissioner Adams,
On behalf of UNISON Staffordshire Police Branch, I write to urge you to adopt the maximum permissible increase in the police council tax precept for 2026/27.
Doing so would bolster the resilience of policing services, protect valued staff roles, and help to ensure the strategic commitments in the Staffordshire Police & Crime Plan can be met.
UNISON members and indeed all of those working for Staffordshire Police are deeply committed to the shared priorities of delivering an outstanding local police service, preventing harm, supporting victims, and working in impactful partnership with local communities, all of which are key pillars of your Police & Crime Plan. These priorities resonate in every neighbourhood and must remain central to financial planning and resource decisions.
Recent discussions around changes to Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) roles and shift patterns illustrate the true impact of financial pressure on staffing and service delivery. While the force has emphasised that no reduction of PCSO numbers or total hours is planned, there remain concerns among staff and communities about potential reduced visibility late into the evening and the implications for neighbourhood reassurance. Unless Staffordshire Police is properly funded this issue will likely replicate itself in other roles across Staffordshire.
PCSOs are widely acknowledged as the eyes and ears of their communities, but more than that they enhance accessibility, build trust, and tackle anti-social behaviour. UNISON feels that any diminution of their effectiveness due to constrained funding or altered working arrangements may risk undermining aspects of neighbourhood policing that the public highly values. Similarly, many police staff roles across the force deliver specialist capabilities which contribute to policing our communities. Ensuring these roles are fully supported and sustainably resourced is essential if the objectives set out in your Police & Crime Plan are to be realised in a way that delivers value for money.
We recognise the financial pressures facing all public services and the difficult balance required between household affordability and effective policing. However, the decision to raise the precept to the maximum allowable level can help protect vital services without resorting to deeper cuts that could erode public confidence, reduce visibility, or force further reductions in experienced and specialist police staff.
UNISON have campaigned vociferously to raise the issues of police funding with the Government and Home Office. We will continue to do so in recognition that the national grant we receive is significant in enabling us to deliver the service the public demands. I have myself met with the last two consecutive Policing Ministers and many of Staffordshire’s MPs to make the case for properly funded police forces and the removal of mandated police officer uplift targets. Whilst we feel that the national funding needs to be increased, we also recognise the role your decision will play in the financial resources we receive. This is crucial for the outcomes we can achieve for the people of Staffordshire.
The proactive approach we are asking for would enhance your ability to deliver against the strategic outcomes our communities expect, from responsive policing to crime prevention and victim support.
Increasing the council tax precept would also help to mitigate the continuing impact of inflation on pay, pensions, and operational costs — factors which have repeatedly placed force budgets under strain. Investment now will help prevent more damaging short-term cost-saving measures later in the budget cycle.
For these reasons, UNISON strongly urges you to adopt the maximum council tax precept increase available for 2026/27. We believe this is the most sustainable course of action to retain and develop a stable, visible, and community-focused police service across Staffordshire.
Yours sincerely,
Rob Birch
Branch Secretary, UNISON Staffordshire Police Branch