'Invest more in police officers and Pcsos - not in privatisation'

A UNION has hit out at a plan to fund private security patrols to combat shoplifting and anti-social behaviour in towns, saying the funds should be invested in police staff instead.

- By STAFF REPORTER

Unison Leicestershire Police has strongly criticised the proposals by police and crime commissioner Rupert Matthews to divert £2 million from policing budgets into private security schemes, warning the move would weaken neighbourhood policing and undermine public safety.

The union said the funding could instead support around 60 police officers and police community support officers (Pcsos).

The Unison opposition is in line with that of Leicestershire Police Federation, the organisation representing the rank-and-file officers.

As reported in Saturday's Mercury, Police Federation chief Andy Spence also believes the money should go towards the police.

Detective Sergeant Spence said: "Putting in a security guard who will just call the police on the phone does not solve the issue.

"Rupert would rather spend £2 million for someone to call the police than spend £2 million on the police.

"Once this money is taken out of the budget, it will not come back in.

"The police force is already understaffed. This funding will take away police officers and Pcsos from the frontline.