Leicestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner has announced he will increase the policing precept to the maximum amount after he was previously voted down by councillors.

Reform PCC Rupert Matthews set forward new plans to increase the Leicestershire Police's share of council tax to £15 after his initial plans were vetoed during the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Panel last Wednesday (February 4).

Mr Matthews, who originally put forward a lower increase of £11, said during the meeting he didn't want the public to "pay a penny more" than necessary and that "times were tough" for constituents.

But that was rejected by the cross-party panel of city and county councillors who thought it was too low, fearing a "massive hole" in the policing budget and ultimately forcing Mr Matthews to come back with a new proposal.

Now, he has said he did not "question his original decision-making process" but "recognised the role" and views of the police and crime panel.

Mr Matthews said: "The challenges put forward by the panel do not lead me to question my original decision-making process, but I do recognise their role to scrutinise my decision-making and represent the views of their relevant organisations and electorates by extension.

"As I made clear, I wanted to go for a low level of council tax precept on behalf of local residents, which was blocked by the panel. Therefore, my Council Tax Precept for the 2026/27 financial year will now be set at £15 for a Band D property.

"The additional income will cover the force's remaining deficit of £750k, which means that the temporary chief constable no longer has an in-year savings target. The balance will boost both our reserves and be used to fund demand-reducing prevention activity to lessen the pressures on the call centre, and frontline officers and staff."

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Temporary chief constable of Leicestershire Police David Sandall said he wanted to "personally thank" Mr Matthews for his decision.

He added: "I am grateful to all the people who have worked hard to ensure the PCC has had the right information and advice to help with his decision, but also to our partners and the public who supported the police through their local councillors or on social media.

"Over the last three years we have managed to save £23 million, and we already have plans in place for this next financial year to save £3.5 million, and the good news is the £15 precept will close the remaining £1.2 million funding gap in 2026/27.

"The PCC has also supported us make some key investments that can help us improve service, be more efficient or enhance our performance.

"He has an intention to invest more into prevention which we hope be into the force provision and build on the good prevention work undertaken by the force with the key aim to reduce demand on our services."

The chairman of Leicestershire Police Federation Andy Spence welcomed the plans and said he was happy that the PCC "listened to reason".

He added: "This will provide much-needed funds at a time to support our hard-working police officers in Leicestershire.

"I am concerned, however, that the PCC commits to giving the entirety of this money to the force so it can support frontline policing at a time when demand is continually rising.

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"None of this money should be diverted into funding charitable and commercial prevention schemes. There is no data demonstrating that these schemes reduce crime or increase public confidence in policing.

"The hard-working officers of Leicestershire Police give their all to keep the public of Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland safe. It is only right that the entire policing budget should be used to support their incredible efforts."