Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner says he has saved 10 PCSOs from redundancy following Cheshire Police’s announcement in December they were axing 60 in total.
Now he is calling on residents to help save others – by paying more in council tax.
Dan Price urged Chief Constable Mark Roberts to think again after the initial announcement, which resulted in 10 of the posts being saved.
But he believes residents can help save all other PCSOs from the chop by agreeing to pay more council tax precept towards policing.
He has written to the Government to request “budget flexibility” in a bid to save all the PCSO roles currently under threat.
Now he is asking residents if they are willing to £2 a month more (Band B property) in police precept to save all PCSOs.
An online survey is now live asking residents to share views on how much they contribute to the police budget through their local council tax.
Mr Price said: ““Cheshire residents have spoken loud and clear about their thoughts on the proposed reduction in PCSOs.
“I know how important visible policing is to them. As a result, I have fought to save 10 PCSO roles from becoming redundant.
“I would now like to ask the public to help me do more.
“I have written to the Government to increase the flexibility I have in setting the budget so that I can save all the PCSOs here in Cheshire.
“If residents agree to pay the cost of a small takeaway coffee more each month through their council tax, they can help me to raise enough money to keep PCSOs.
“Cheshire is the safest county in the north west and Cheshire Police is a high performing police force.
“Now is not the time to stand still. Policing is constantly evolving and it’s important we have a police budget that provides the resources to continue to keep our county safe in a changing landscape.
“Any increase in precept is always difficult to ask for but I believe we need leadership on this issue. Policing is a key service and people are always asking me to see more officers on patrol.”
The “cut back” option would see the policing precept frozen at current levels.
Although this would allow investment in automation it would cut prevention programmes, review of victims’ services, fewer people answering calls and removal of all PCSOs.
The “manage” option would see residents paying 97p more a month (Band B property).
This would see investment in automation, redeployment of 51 new officers into neighbourhoods and use of existing drones to focus on anti-social behaviour and ebikes. But it would still result in a reduction of 50 PCSOs.
The “do more” option would see residents paying £2.14 more a month (Band B property), which would keep all 87 PCSOs on top of other services mentioned.
Residents can have their say by completing the survey here https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/2026-27precept/
The government is to scrap the role of PCCs from May 2028.
But Mr Price it is “business as usual” until then and that includes setting the police budget for Cheshire Constabulary.
The survey mentioned in this article is a joke surely?
I’d be happy to pay more on the proviso that the East Cheshire councillors expenses and salaries are frozen for the next 5 years like my tax allowance has been, frivolous ‘diversity’ expenditure is demonstrably cut back and there is a council cutback in headcount of 2%.
Please advise when above have been implemented!
We already pay a fortune for services we don’t get so why should we pay for another one?
We never see the Police or a PCSO, even more so now they have decided to close the Police Station.
What message are you sending out by reducing our so called protectors and closing the Station?
Another disgrace!
Wouldn’t mind so much if we ever saw the PCSO’s let alone them actually doing something.
Over the previous years the policing part of the council tax has been increased substantially and we should not be asked to pay more on top.
If ratepayers are already paying through their Council Tax for the Police, why would ratepayers be expected to pay additionally for PCSOs. It’s amazing that ‘boffins’ think paying just 2.14 extra per month on Band B….so let’s do the maths, if you are in Band C and upwards, then that £2.14 is more. FORGET IT. We never see a police person or a PCSO and when I did ask for the A51 to be checked for speeding cars, got a PCSO in high vis etc etc, so cars weren’t speeding. Rocket science that.
Not getting value for money now,so would definitely not be paying more for an already invisible service, unless you count speed cameras.
No visible policing in our area for years, and most if you do see one have no social skills as regards interaction with the public, eye contact, saying hello,rather look at the ground
Not a hope, focus on the inefficiencies of CE , this is where the saving can be made
No I wouldn’t. Why pay twice.