Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones. Photo: Lincolnshire Reporter
Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones has refused to rule out a council tax rise after the government announced it would not be increasing the central police grant for the force.
The Conservative PCC has campaigned for Lincolnshire, as one of the lowest funded police forces in the country, to receive a fairer deal from the government.
However, any proposed review of the formula has been put back until after the 2019-20 financial year.
Nick Hurd, Minister of State at the Home Office, did agree that local council tax for policing could be increased by around 5.8%, equating to between 65p and £2 a month depending on council tax band.
The police commissioner has said that this could raise up to £3.3 million – with Lincolnshire Police currently having a budget black hole of £6 million.
Marc Jones said: “I am disappointed that we still do not have a long-term solution for future funding and will continue the battle to get one.
“The latest announcement gives us an opportunity to raise extra money from council tax but even that will only plug a gap in the short term.
“And I am determined not to make a decision until I have consulted the people of the county. We have some tough choices to make because without extra funding from somewhere we will be forced to make cuts.
“But at the same time I believe passionately that I am here to be the voice of the people and I want to hear what they have to say.
“I want to thank our local MPs for standing with me in the fight to solve the long-term funding issues the county faces, but it appears that fight continues.”
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A local man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving after two pedestrians were injured in a collision with a car and three parked vehicles in Skegness.
Lincolnshire Police officers attended the scene after the collision between a blue Citroen Berlingo, the parked vehicles, and a man and a woman, who are both in their 60s, on Winthorpe Avenue shortly before 7pm on Friday, April 16.
The two pedestrians suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital. However, their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
A 63-year-old local man, who was driving the Berlingo, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving. He has since been released under investigation.
Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage and anyone with information should contact them on 101 or via email at [email protected] quoting incident number 389 of April 16.
Few people attended the second Kill the Bill protest in Lincoln on Saturday, as Extinction Rebellion activists stood alone on the High Street to campaign against a proposed policing bill that could make many protests illegal.
Activists from Extinction Rebellion Lincolnshire gathered at Speakers’ Corner to oppose plans for the latest Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which could curtail protesting rights if passed through parliament.
Extinction Rebellion were the main representatives at the protest. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Under the proposed bill, police officers will be given greater powers to put a stop to any protests, as well as determining start and finish times for them, and controlling noise levels.
A few stopped to talk with the protestors, but most just went about their day walking down Lincoln High Street in the first weekend that non-essential shops and beer gardens reopened.
The Lincolnite spoke to one of the rebels at the protest, to find out the reasons behind the march.
They said: “This draconian bill cannot go ahead, it needs to be taken apart and re-evaluted completely.
“People have been walking past us shaking their heads, but they don’t realise that it’s their freedom we are fighting for.”
The Lincolnite photographer Steve Smailes captured some pictures from the protest.
Signs were put up by the works at Speakers’ Corner on Lincoln High Street. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
A 19-year-old man is in hospital with serious injuries after a crash on the A52 on Friday evening.
The single-vehicle crash, involving a white Suzuki Splash, happened in the westbound lane of the A52 between Barrowby and Sedgebrook at around 7.20pm on Friday, April 16.
The driver of the car is now in hospital after suffering serious injuries, and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Officers believe the driver had travelled from Grantham on the A52 at Barrowby before the crash.
Anyone who has dashcam footage or saw the vehicle before the incident is being asked to call 101, quoting incident 420 of April 16.
Alternatively, you can email [email protected], using the same reference in the subject box.
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