Tax on holiday homes to fund extra police in key UK tourist destinations
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A rise in council tax on second-homes in Devon and Cornwall will be used to fund police patrols. Funds raised by increasing council tax bills for second-home owners in the counties of Devon and Cornwall, are set to be used for extra police patrols in both counties. The force could receive an extra £6 million when local authorities in the two regions, double the council tax rates for holiday homes from April 2025.
The police and crime commissioner for the counties, Alison Hernandez, said that she was planning to use some of the money to increase patrols, install additional CCTV and get officers out of “backroom jobs” that could be done by others, reports The Guardian. Ms Hernandez shared: “With its high proportion of holiday properties, the force is one of the key beneficiaries of a decision by councils to double council tax rates for second homes.
“I may use some of the additional revenue to expand my Street Focus project and maintain high-visibility patrols in communities across Devon and Cornwall.”. The Street Focus project that Ms Hernandez refers to was a scheme that was piloted in Torquay, Devon, which aims to tackle antisocial behaviour and drug dealing. The police and crime commissioner added that 13,016 targeted foot patrols had taken place between May and November, in 2024, as a part of the project and that officers on these patrols made a total of 70 arrests.
“We know that when people see officers in their community and engage with them, their confidence in policing improves. I also plan to invest in keeping people safe with money set aside for additional CCTV, night buses and street marshals. And I want to use the funding to keep sworn officers out of back-office roles which can – and should – be done by civilians," continued Ms Hernandez.
