'No money available for uplift in police officers'

BUT CRIME TSAR TELLS PANEL OF PLAN FOR 49 MORE PCSO'S

- By ALISON STEPHENSON Local Democracy Reporter

POLICE commissioner Alison Hernandez says it’s unlikely there will be money to recruit more regular police officers but 49 new police community support officers (PCSOs) across Devon and Cornwall will make an impact.

Speaking at a Devon and Cornwall police and crime panel meeting she said chief constable James Vaughan was also “absolutely determined” to push more officers doing other jobs back to the frontline into patrol and neighbourhood than the force had ever done before.

An additional 34 PCSOs will be appointed in Devon and 15 in Cornwall as a result of the government's Neighbourhood Policing Grant.

Ms Hernandez has put out a public appeal to try and encourage people to take up a new career with the force.

She said it was “reassuring” to know the number of PCSOs was increasing alongside police officer numbers being at a record level of 3,610.