CHESHIRE Police Authority is backing the police in their fight against crime with a £180m budget for the next 12 months.

The increase in Council Tax has been agreed at 6.95%, 14.5p a week for an average Band D property.

'We have listened to the views of local people at our Police Forums across Cheshire, Halton and Warrington and have taken on board comments from business ratepayers about increases in Council Tax and how people want us to continue to improve policing services,' said Authority chairman Peter Nurse.

'The extra 14.5p per week for an average property, will enable us to do this and improve our customer call handling service and maintain and improve our existing performance levels for fighting and reducing crime.'