PCSOs COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE BEAT UNDER THE TORIES

David Williams, Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, has deplored the announcement by the Tories that they plan to scrap Police Community Support Officers.

The Tory Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling recently announced that they plan to remove PCSOs from the beat if they win the next general Election.

David Williams said, “In Crewe and Nantwich the PCSOs play an important role in our community. They provide a visible link between the public and the police and carry out much of the neighbourhood liaison work that has a real effect in preventing crime and releasing Police Officers to concentrate on crime detection. PCSOs are an important element in Cheshire’s Neighbourhood Policing Policy and to scrap them would destroy the good work done by them over the last few years.”

Cheshire Constabulary says on their web site, “Police Community Support Officers are a valuable addition to the police family and Cheshire Police are keen to build on the success of existing PCSOs who are already making a real difference to local communities. Cheshire Police currently has over 200 PCSOs in Force who work as an integral part of the 18 Neighbourhood Policing Units. Their role is non-confrontational and they provide a reassuring uniform presence in local communities.”

David Williams commented, “Crime in Cheshire has fallen by 7% and in Crewe and Nantwich the PCSOs have played a very important role in working with local residents to prevent crime and to improve the neighbourhoods themselves. They are seen as a valuable link between the residents and the Police Force, working in partnership with residents, Neighbourhood Forums and other agencies. Locally there are PCSOs who have won awards for the work that they have done and I fully support them in their efforts to improve our local neighbourhoods.”