'The proposals allow PCSOs to be in the right places at the right times...'

Staffordshire's police commissioner defends cuts to evening patrols

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STAFFORDSHIRE'S police and crime commissioner has defended controversial proposals to change PCSO shift patterns.

Ben Adams says Staffordshire Police's plan to reduce PCSO evening patrols and increase day shifts, with the last shifts ending at 9pm instead of 10pm, will allow the support officers to be 'in the right places at the right times'.

The proposals have attracted criticism from union representatives and local politicians, who claim that they will leave communities exposed during the evenings, with PCSOs themselves losing pay. Labour councillors and MPs have called on the Conservative police and crime commissioner to reconsider the changes.