Concerns raised for planned reduction in PCSO numbers across Cambridgeshire

The plans, announced in October, have been drawn up in an attempt to address the force’s budget deficit and help make savings of £1.7 million in 2021/22, include halving the number of PCSOs, removing the community safety team, closing nine enquiry offices, and introducing an appointments-based system for members of the public to speak to police officers.

Peterborough Liberal Democrats were very disappointed to hear the news that the Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire Constabulary has proposed cuts to neighbourhood policing in the county. The plans, announced in October, have been drawn up in an attempt to address the force’s budget deficit and help make savings of £1.7 million in 2021/22.

They include halving the number of PCSOs, removing the community safety team, closing nine enquiry offices, and introducing an appointments-based system for members of the public to speak to police officers. The Lib Dems are concerned about the impact of such changes on grassroots policing in local communities.

Rupert Moss-Eccardt, the Lib Dem candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire, said:

"We are worried about what these proposed cost-saving changes will mean for the communities of Cambridgeshire. It is clear that halving the number of PCSOs – leaving just 40 of them to cover all of our cities, towns and villages - will make it more difficult to prevent or tackle neighbourhood crime. We will lose a highly experienced body of officers who have engaged with the communities in which they work."

"All the proposed measures, which will reduce public access to police officers as well as PCSOs, have been announced with very little detail or impact assessment. We call upon the Chief Constable to halt any changes until after a new Police and Crime Commissioner is elected next May, when there can be proper public scrutiny of the proposals."