The 2004/05 budget includes the cost of the following initiatives:

66 New police officers to deliver ward based policing resulting in the highest number of police officers ever to police Gwent. This will help increase local visibility and accountability to the Gwent community.

The return of a police station to the Pill community in Newport City.

The construction of a new police station and custody facility in Ystrad Mynach during 2004/05 to improve the liaison between the crown prosecution service and the police service.

More staff to deal with call handling and to cope with the 30% increase in demand.

Better crime recording system to improve information on criminals and help protect the vulnerable in our society.

Better communication systems for officers including access to criminal intelligence by officers on patrol.

Budgeted Expenditure 2004/05

The budget for 2004/05 is £98m and the following table shows the breakdown of how each pound is allocated to deliver a policing service for Gwent. Whilst 73% of our funding comes directly from government around 27% is collected locally via council tax as precept. The increase in 2004/05 is £20.02 on a Band D property of which £12.56 reflects inflationary pressures on existing budgets, whilst £7.46 represents the additional investments needed to address critical operational pressures including £3.46 in respect of ward based policing.

How Each Pound is Spent

66p - Police Officers/Pensions 17p - Police Staff 8p - Supplies & services 5p - Transport & Premises 4p - Capital & Projects