Avon and Somerset Police Authority Chair Dr Moira Hamlin will answer questions during a live web chat on Monday, February 22.

Do you have questions about the police budget or how much you pay for policing? If you do, go online on Monday evening where the Chair will be ready to respond to all your queries as part of a live web-chat.

Dr Moira Hamlin said: "It is vital for the Police Authority to consult with you about your policing priorities and listen to your views about policing in your area. Before Christmas we asked MORI to find out what residents wanted to pay for policing and the results came back overwhelming in favour of setting a precept that would maintain or improve policing services.

“The Police Authority had a difficult job to balance the needs of the community to maintain frontline policing while keeping costs to a minimum. We think we achieved this, but we know many households are feeling the pressures of the economic recession. We want to hear from you if you have any questions about the policing part of the council tax, or if you just want to know more about the budget or the role of the Police Authority Monday will be the opportunity for you to ask the questions.”

The web chat runs from 5pm until 7pm and everyone is invited to get involved by visiting www.aspola.org.uk or by going to www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/webchat Questions can also be asked in advance, so get your thinking caps on and get on-line any time between now and the web-chat.

Avon and Somerset Police Authority is an independent body of local people who make sure that you have an efficient and effective police service. There are 17 members, including nine councillor members, appointed by the local councils and eight independent members who are selected following a recruitment process.

Your questions can be about the budget, the role and the future of police authorities or anything else about the police authority that interested you, maybe how to become an impendent member, so take this chance to satisfy your curiosity.

Please remember day-to-day policing is the job of the Chief Constable and if you have any operational queries you should contact the Constabulary on 0845 456 7000.