POLICE and Crime Commissioner (PCC) David Munro has come under fire from Surrey County Council’s Tory and Lib Dem groups this week after pressing ahead with a 5.5 per cent increase to the police’s share of the council tax bill, despite opposition from the Surrey Police and Crime Panel.

Surrey’s independent PCC and former Waverley councillor, Mr Munro said the increase – equivalent to an increase of £15 a year for the average Band D home in Surrey – will fund ten extra officers and 67 operational support roles over the coming year.

However, during an online meeting of the police and crime panel last Friday, the majority of members voted against the proposals – but not the two-thirds required to veto Mr Munro’s suggested increase, and the precept was agreed.

Earlier, Mr Munro had also revealed 51 per cent of respondents to his consultation had also rejected his proposal.

This has led to fierce criticism from Mr Munro’s political opponents ahead of this May’s PCC elections, with the Lib Dems claiming a “crisis of legitimacy” now exists in the county.

Cllr Paul Kennedy, the Lib Dem’s PCC candidate, said the proposed tax hike means Mr Munro will have increased the police council tax precept by nearly 30 per cent during his five-year stint as PCC.

Cllr Kennedy said: “The decision to press ahead with another large increase, when so many people are suffering financially, is unprecedented and outrageous.

“It creates a further crisis of legitimacy for the Conservatives’ deeply-flawed and derided PCC model.

“We have a former Conservative PCC, at the end of the fifth year of his term, ignoring the concerns of the public and the panel, and obeying the orders of Priti Patel and the Conservative government – imposing an inflation-busting increase on Surrey council tax payers, who already pay the highest share of police funding in the country.”

Surrey County Council’s Tory leader Cllr Tim Oliver also stuck the boot in, adding: “Covid has had a huge impact on all our residents and Surrey County Council and its partners have sought to provide support, financial security and certainty wherever possible through the pandemic.

“However, we’ve also recognised the challenges residents face and the financial impact of Covid.

“That is why we are not increasing council tax by the full amount allowed by government.

“The majority of the members on the Surrey police and crime panel who were present voted against the proposal, but the current independent PCC decided to proceed anyway.

“It is a concern that the PCC’s suggested £15 increase is likely to place even greater financial pressure on our residents at an already-challenging time and we ask him to review his decision.”

Defending the increase, PCC Mr Munro said: “Police resources have been stretched to the limit over the past decade and I have pledged to do everything I can to put more officers back into our communities tackling those issues that matter to Surrey residents.

“So I’m pleased this year’s precept has been agreed which will mean more numbers added to the Surrey Police establishment that will provide a badly-needed boost to our front line.

“When I launched our consultation in January, I said asking the public for more money during these difficult times was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make as PCC.

“That has been borne out in our survey which showed a really even split in people’s views on supporting my proposed rise and I fully appreciate the hardship lots of people are facing during this extremely difficult period.

“But I firmly believe that in these uncertain times the role our police teams play in keeping our communities safe has never been more important and that tipped the balance for me in recommending this increase.”