Gloucestershire Constabulary may cut a third of PCSOs due to a £12.3 million funding gap, sparking crime concerns.
Maggie Blyth says finances are very tight now. She has worked in public service for 35 years and has never seen it this bad. Alastair Chambers fears more crime will follow. He says cutting PCSOs is a mistake, and he thinks Labour is to blame for the cuts.
Chambers says PCSOs help the community and ease the work for police officers. PCSOs solve issues early, he explains. Chambers also says the government cuts budgets. He believes the cuts hurt community safety, as PCSOs build trust and prevent crime.
He says there are about 120 PCSOs now. Cutting a third is bad for communities, and Chambers believes investment is needed. Chambers worries about the impact on crime. He thinks Labour’s cuts will cause issues, and he thinks communities will be vulnerable.
Diana Johnson says police funding is increasing. Gloucestershire will receive more than £168 million, which includes funds for more officers. Alex McIntyre says core funding increased a lot, with the force receiving money to fight violence. McIntyre says funding cuts are false.
McIntyre will discuss the budget issues with a minister. He says frontline officers will be protected, further commenting that the government values local policing. Chris Nelson says he protects local policing. However, the financial climate creates difficulties, and he will ensure policing is strong as possible.
The police force faces financial challenges. They started talking about job cuts and are talking with UNISON about this. The police force cannot share details yet, but they will have teams working locally, focusing on high-threat areas. The police will patrol, investigate crimes, and arrest offenders. These are all important priorities, as they will help keep people safe.