TAXPAYERS are being asked for their views on police funding and how community policing should work.

Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger has launched a survey to asses opinions on how much money goes towards the police force via tax.

Around 27 per cent of Cleveland Police funding comes from the council tax police precept, with the remainder paid by central Government.

The online survey asks residents if they would like to see more Government funding and if they would support an increase in the precept.

Mr Coppinger said: "The Government has acknowledged the significant increase in demand on the police to tackle domestic abuse, modern slavery, child sex exploitation and cyber-crime, but has not made any extra resources available locally.

“The Home Secretary announced additional flexibility for PCCs around the precept, which means that I can increase the amount paid by a Band D property by up to £24 a year.

“I understand that this option will mean people who are already struggling in Cleveland would need to pay more and the burden for trying to maintain services falls to local taxpayers instead of being addressed nationally.

“However without this increase, Cleveland Police will need to make significant further cuts on top of those that have already been imposed through reduced funding over the last eight years."

The survey runs until January 21, 2019.