Child abuse referrals soar across county

REFERRALS to Cheshire Police into online child abuse soared from more than 180 in 2023 to nearly 800 last year.

- BY BELINDA RYAN Local Democracy Reporter

Cheshire's Assistant Chief Constable Alison Ross, Chief Constable Mark Roberts and Police and Crime Commissioner Dan Price at the extraordinary meeting of the police and crime panel in Crewe

(Belinda Ryan, LDRS)

Chief Constable Mark Roberts revealed the figures during a meeting of the police and crime panel called to discuss the controversial decision to axe 50 PCSO (police community support officer) posts across the county.

He said police staff, as well as warranted officers, were involved in digital investigations and gave this as one example of why he had taken the difficult decision to make up to 70 per cent of the 87 PCSOs redundant rather than other employees.

Chief Constable Roberts told the meeting in Crewe: "The only way, unless we get an increased financial envelope, I can balance the budget is to make people redundant.

"And I have the difficult task of working out where can I take staff out of the organisation and give the best possible service to the public in Cheshire."