Police U-turn on retaining community officers

A police force looks likely to retain its 99 community support officers (PCSOs) after previously announcing plans to get rid of them.

Last month, Essex Police said it needed to make drastic savings to mitigate a budget shortfall of £5.3m.

However, the government said on Friday it would invest £100m in policing, of which Essex Police would receive £2.3m.

The force said it still planned to cut 65 staff roles, and increase its share of council tax.

Roger Hirst, police, fire and crime commissioner for Essex, said he could not confirm which staff roles would be cut, but that a "variety" could be lost.

"We recognise the impact this has on staff, officers and PCSOs who come to work each day to protect all of us and prevent crime," he said.

"However hard the decisions, I am committed to working with everybody in Essex and nationally to secure the resources Essex Police need to get crime down."

Mr Hirst said the force's latest budget, approved by the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Panel, included plans to increase the amount of council tax households pay for police and fire services by just under 6%.

It meant the average band D property in Essex would pay a combined extra £18.90 a year for policing.

Other proposed cost-saving measures included stopping some non-critical building and technology projects.

The "south-east allowance", which officers get due to the higher cost of living in this part of the country, would also be cut by £250 a year to £2,750.

Mr Hirst, who was elected on a Conservative ticket, said public support to retain PCSOs had been "vocal and powerful".

"We remain committed to delivering the best possible services to the public and to working with government to reform and improve policing and fire and rescue in Essex," he added.

The force said its revised plans would be submitted to the Home Office for approval.

A decision was expected in the spring.

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