Ian Lucas wants north Wales to have extra community support officers

Ian Lucas spoke out after deputy chief constable Clive Wolfendale urged the government to fund more bobbies on the beat rather than community support officers and neighbourhood wardens.

The Wrexham MP said "this money for community support officers is not available for anything else".

Mr Wolfendale spoke as the UK Government revealed its five-year anti-crime plan.

Home Secretary David Blunkett announced a new neighbourhood policing fund, helping to recruit 20,000 extra community support officers.

Clive Wolfendale wants extra bobbies on the beat

Mr Wolfendale said the scheme was "not good economics" and communities could have police officers on the beat for very little more money.

However, Mr Lucas said that point is "nonsensical".

"The mere fact that a [community support] officer is there has an impact on people's behaviour.

"We've got more police officers in north Wales now than we've ever had," he added.

The region currently has eight CSOs and all are based in Rhyl.

Mr Lucas is a strong advocate of the posts and has expressed his concerns previously that North Wales Police did not apply for sufficient Home Office funding during the last scheme.

"They could have had 100% funding for community support officers, they refused to apply and therefore did not receive the money," he said.

The Home Office has announced additional funding will be available for extra posts and Mr Lucas said he would urge North Wales Police to apply for the money.

He says the community support officers can help improve North Wales Police's fight against crime.

"In Gwent they have in the region of 50 CSOs and I'm told they're very successful," he added.

However, a spokeswoman for North Wales Police said the force will be taking on more community support officers.

"We are presently in the process of allocating them to divisions according to workload.

"We see them as a valuable part of the extended policing family," she added.