Cheshire Police to cut 60 PCSO roles to save £13m

Cheshire Police is to go ahead with plans to cut 60 police community support officers (PCSOs) roles.

The force will reduce the number of the officers from 87 to 27 across the county, as part of plans to save £13m.

The decision has been criticised by local MPs and the police and crime commissioner Dan Price, who said he had put forward a proposal which he believed could potentially save 10 of the roles.

The proposals were first announced last month, with an internal consultation ending last week.

The force said after the consultation ended it sent letters to stakeholders informing them of the outcome.

"Shortly after this, a further counter proposal was received which we are now carefully considering," a police spokesman said.

"This does not impact the overall position but makes proposals around the number of PCSO posts to be retained."

Mr Price said he was disappointed in the decision.

"I want to reassure you that I continue to explore options with Cheshire Constabulary to minimise job losses and any disruption to communities," he said.

"However, I cannot interfere in operational policing decisions made by the Chief Constable."

However, he said as he is the one who sets the budget, he had put forward a proposal that could potentially save some of the jobs, and was waiting for a response.

Aphra Brandreth, the Conservative MP for Chester South and Eddisbury, described the decision as "incredibly disappointing".

"Like many residents, I'm deeply concerned about the impact this will have on communities," she said.

"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."

Labour's Connor Naismith, the MP for Crewe and Nantwich, said he had seen "first hand the crucial role that PCSOs play".

"My democratic mandate from the public is to deliver 13,000 extra police officers, PCSOs and special constables and I am concerned these plans fly in the face of that commitment, particularly when the force has received £3m from central government to increase neighbourhood policing numbers," he said.

He added he remained of the view this was the "wrong course of action" and urged the force to reverse the decision.

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