PCSO review under 'consultation'

UPDATE GIVEN ON CONTROVERSIAL PLANS TO ALTER SHIFTS

- By PHIL CORRIGAN Local Democracy Reporter

A PCSO on patrol

STAFFORDSHIRE'S acting police chief insists no final decision has been taken on controversial changes to community support officer shifts.

The county's force has been carrying out a review of the PCSO role, which could see changes to shift patterns and expanded duties.

Unions, MPs and councillors have hit out at the plans, particularly the proposals to reduce evening patrols and have PCSOs finish work at 9pm instead of 10pm.

Speaking during Staffordshire Commissioner Ben Adams’ police public performance meeting, acting chief constable Becky Riggs, above, who commissioned the review, says its aim is to ‘maximise the skills’ of PCSOs and ‘make best use of their time.