Cheshire Police is pressing ahead with controversial plans to slash the number of PCSO posts across the county by 70%, despite a public backlash.
In a letter, Assistant Chief Constable Alison Ross said that following conclusion of the internal consultation “the proposal to reduce the number of PCSO (police community support officer) posts from 87 to 27 will now be progressed”.
She said the decision “has not been taken lightly and those affected are being supported throughout the process”.
The letter states: “We fully recognise the valuable contribution that PCSOs make to our communities…
“However, the ongoing financial pressures facing the force, combined with the changing nature of crime and public expectations, mean that we must adapt our workforce model to ensure we remain fit for the future.
“We have had a cumulative reduction in our budget of £115 million since 2008/9 and currently need to make a further £13 million in savings by 2029.”
She says reducing the number of PCSOs ‘will also allow us to redeploy warranted police officers into local policing teams, ensuring we have the right resources and powers in place to tackle the issues that matter most to our communities’.
MPs including Connor Naismith (Crewe & Nantwich, Lab) and Aphra Brandreth (Chester South and Eddisbury, Con) had raised concerns when the proposal was first announced last month.
Both Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester full councils recently backed motions calling on the force to reconsider the proposal.
Today, Cheshire East councillor Janet Clowes (Wybunbury) attacked Chief Constable Mark Roberts’ “arrogance” in failing to respond to questions from the council.
A furious Cllr Clowes, who put forward the motion at last week’s meeting of full council, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The Chief Constable’s arrogance in failing to even answer the questions that were unanimously approved in our notice of motion is unforgiveable.
“And to ignore the democratic representatives of both Cheshire East and Cheshire West councils is wholly unacceptable.”
A Cheshire Police spokesperson said: “The Chief Constable did not receive the councillor’s letter until December 18th and is now drafting a response to the points raised within it.”
Cllr Julie Smith (Handforth), who seconded the Cheshire East motion, questioned whether the Chief Constable had even read it.
She told the LDRS that, as a Cheshire East councillor, she had not even been informed of the decision.
Cllr Smith said: “I don’t understand why they’ve suddenly made this decision because there hasn’t been full consultation and they’re not listening to the residents.
“Communities want PCSOs. You only have to read social media and talk to people in the street who want to keep the PCSOs.
“They don’t want a faceless PC that they have to contact by email.
“They want somebody they can get hold of when they need them.”
Aphra Brandreth, MP for Chester South and Eddisbury, took to social media to express her concerns.
The Conservative MP posted on Facebook: “I’ve just received the incredibly disappointing news that Cheshire Police is going ahead with plans to cut the number of PCSOs across the county.
“Like many residents, I’m deeply concerned about the impact this will have on communities across Chester South and Eddisbury.
“I’ve already met with the chief constable to raise these concerns and to understand the details behind the proposals.
“Our police officers and PCSOs do an outstanding job in very challenging circumstances, and I’m hugely grateful for their dedication.
“While we are told there will be additional police officers, these will not be new recruits but redeployed from existing roles. That simply isn’t right.”
A Cheshire Police spokesperson said: “On Wednesday 17 December the Constabulary’s formal consultation period in relation to the proposed reduction of PCOSs concluded and letters were circulated to stakeholders informing them of the outcome.
“Shortly after this, a further counter proposal was received which we are now carefully considering. This does not impact the overall position but makes proposals around the number of PCSO posts to be retained.
“We will provide a further update when a final decision on our new Neighbourhood Policing Model has been made.”
https://www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/keep-cheshire-safe-save-our-pcsos
The above link takes you to a Unison site to sign a petition “demanding” that the PCC change his mind.
No mention whatsoever of where the £13 million saving is to be found.
(Shakes head in disbelief)
Make no difference to myself, as never see a PCSO, or police officer for that matter, in area I reside. Quite frankly, police officers should be doing the job, not PCSO’s, end of.
So, if Cheshire Police needs “… to make a further £13 million in savings by 2029”, presumably these councillors and MPs are going to cough up the £13m to avoid the PCSO cuts?
Answers on a postcard… sigh.
Are they suggesting that other staff should have their pay cut to balance the books?
No wonder Cheshire East Council is technically bankrupt, none of them seem to be able to grasp the basics of finance.