Call for flexibility in effort to save county PCSO jobs

CHESHIRE residents are being asked if they would stump up an extra couple of pounds a month towards the police precept to safeguard all 87 PCSOs across the county.

- BY BELINDA RYAN

There was an angry backlash when Cheshire Police announced last month it planned to axe 60 police community support officers (PCSO) as part of a cost cutting measure in a bid to save £13 million over the next four years.

The move would see warranted officers redeployed into local policing teams. Police and crime commissioner (PCC) Dan Price recently announced he has managed to save 10 of those roles.

And on Friday, Mr Price told a specially called meeting of the police and crime panel he hoped to be able to save all 87 PCSOs with the help of the public.

"I have written to the government to request budget flexibility in the amount of the precept I propose to charge - this is the part of residents' council tax that is used to pay for policing," he said.

"This is an exceptional step. Only a handful of PCCs in England have been willing to do this.