MAYOR SETS OUT PLANS FOR SAFER NEIGHBOURHOODS AND MORE VISIBLE POLICING – AND WANTS YOUR VIEWS
Published 2 January 2026 at 11:43am
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard has outlined his ambition for more visible policing on our streets and to reduce neighbourhood crime and tackle antisocial behaviour through more investment in policing.The Mayor is inviting residents to share their views on his proposals before he sets the police precept - the part of local council tax that helps fund South Yorkshire Police.
Local police and fire services are funded through a mix of government grants (around three quarters of the total budget) and the remainder is raised through the council tax precept. In South Yorkshire, the policing precept makes up about 11% of a typical council tax bill.
Extra funding for policing means better policing: safer neighbourhoods, more visible policing, quicker response times and for officers to be equipped with the modern tools they need to do their job.
If the precept is increased in line with government expectations - £15 per year (29 pence per week) for a Band D property or a £10 increase (or 19 pence per week) for a Band A property, South Yorkshire Police will receive £396.5 million next year. That includes £289.8 million from the government and £106.7 million from the precept - a 4.7% (£17.8 million) increase on last year’s settlement. The majority of properties in South Yorkshire are in Band A – 57%.
Before making his decision on increasing the policing precept, the Mayor is seeking views from across the communities of South Yorkshire. The results will help to inform his decision which will be proposed to the Police and Crime Panel in February 2026.
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “One of the most important jobs I have as South Yorkshire’s Mayor is to make sure South Yorkshire Police has the resources it needs to keep us and our communities safe. That means making sure our police are focused on the priorities we share, and that every pound is spent wisely to deliver on those priorities.
“I’ve heard what matters most: reducing neighbourhood crime, more visible policing on our streets, tackling antisocial behaviour and serious, violent crime, and making our transport network safer. A modest increase to the police precept would help the police to tackle those priorities.
“Every year, I have to make tough decisions about how we fund policing – balancing what our police need to do their job with the impact on household budgets. That’s why I want to hear from everyone across South Yorkshire before I set the precept that helps pay for our police.”
If the precept is raised by the maximum amount, the money would go towards:
• Reducing neighbourhood crime - tackling anti-social behaviour, burglary, robbery, vehicle crime and theft.
• Increasing visible policing - more patrols and high-visibility policing in town centres for reassurance and quicker responses.
• Targeting youth anti-social behaviour - combining enforcement with education in hotspot areas.
• Strengthening safety on transport networks - cracking down on illegal e-bikes and e-scooters and making journeys safer.
• Tackling serious and violent crime - stronger enforcement against drug-related offences and violence, with a focus on protecting women and girls.
• Investing in modern policing resources - upgrading vehicles, estates and technology (including AI) to improve effectiveness and keep communities safe.
The survey can be undertaken via this link or by scanning the QR code below:
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