THE region's police and crime commissioner has admitted he faces a council tax dilemma - and wants the public's help in deciding what to do.

Bill Longmore has appealed for opinions from Worcester News readers before he opts to make any changes to the bill.

West Mercia Police takes around 12 per cent of Worcestershire's council tax money, with force chiefs having to make their mind up over the coming weeks on whether to increase it or not.

Last week Chancellor George Osborne announced that police funding will be protected in real terms over the next five years in a surprise boost to forces nationwide.

But his pledge was based on commissioners increasing council tax by just under two per cent, despite inflation currently being negative.

Mr Longmore, who is stepping down at the 2016 elections, is now about to set his final budget for 2016/17 and admits he does not know what to do.

The household bill is almost certain to rise from April anyway, with Worcestershire County Council's leadership due to to increase its share, but a similar move by the police would see it go up further.

"It’s safe to say the financial pressures now facing local policing are not as bad as we feared," said Mr Longmore.

"But equally we need to be clear that the Government’s announcement is not as generous as it might have first appeared.

"Financial pressures are still very real and we have got to continue to manage everything responsibly."

"What George Osborne didn’t say in his Comprehensive Spending Review is that the Government will still reduce its central funding to police forces during this Parliament.

"They are making another cut - they're just relying on local council tax payers to make up that shortfall. That isn’t a foregone conclusion though."

Council tax funding currently makes up around 40 per cent of the force's income and last year, Mr Longmore upped it by just under two per cent.

Mr Longmore added: "It's very clear when you look closely at the Government’s figures, there will still be a significant cut to police funding, so there are still difficult decisions to be made.

"I would invite everyone to get in touch and let me know what they think about the idea of paying more towards policing.

"I assure you it isn’t a loaded question, and there’s no definitive right or wrong answer, but I want to make sure people have the full facts of the situation before making up their mind either way."

You can contact him by emailing opcc@westmercia.pnn.police.uk or by filling out the survey online at westmercia-pcc.gov.uk.

You can also write to him at PO Box 487, Shrewsbury, SY2 6LG by Wednesday, January 18.

The county council's leadership signalled last month that it was likely to seek a rise of 1.9 per cent - although a definite proposal will only emerge in January.