Have your say on funding for policing and fire and rescue services in Northamptonshire.
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone has launched an online consultation to ask how much people are willing to pay to support their Northamptonshire police and fire services next year (2026/27).
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone is asking for views before setting the council tax precept – the amount of the council tax bill that goes towards funding Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Local police and fire services are funded through a combination of central government grants and the council tax precept. The precept is about 18% of a total council tax bill in Northamptonshire.
A consultation has now been launched to ask how much people are willing to pay to support their police and fire services next year (2026/27).
Government guidance on what level of precept increase is available to Commissioner’s is expected soon, but we are asking for views on an expected increase of £14 a year for policing and £5 a year for fire for a Band D property.
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone said that these increases are needed to balance the budgets of both organisations and to invest in policing and fire services.
“It’s never easy to ask for more money, but it’s my responsibility to set the precept for Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service. I must balance the impact on taxpayers against the need to invest in these important public services so that they can deliver on the public’s priorities,” Danielle said.
“We have made a commitment to create new policing hubs in key towns and there will be two new fire stations and new appliances to ensure we continue to meet the risks that face the county. I am genuinely excited by the developments we are seeing.
“Without the contribution that local people make through their council tax, we can’t deliver better services,” Danielle added.
The strategic priorities for both Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service are set out in Danielle’s Safe and Sound Plan, which is based on the results of a wide-ranging public consultation.
The Plan aims to deliver police and fire services that are visible, accessible and engaged with their local communities – so that they deliver on public priorities.
In the coming year, new investments in both services will include keeping police officer and firefighter numbers and creating better town centre police bases in Corby, Kettering and Towcester. For fire, there will be new fire stations in Moulton and Kettering and new fire appliances.
Danielle said: “As Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, I am committed to pressing the government on the historic underfunding and underinvestment in Northamptonshire.
“The council tax precept is a significant part of our funding and before I set the level for next year, I really want to hear from the public.”
The survey is now open and runs until midday on Monday 5 January 2026.
