Save our Police Community Support Officers
Oadby Liberal Democrats are asking local residents to sign a petition to save our PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers).
Conservatives on Leicestershire County Council are cutting support for PCSOs. The decision was passed at the Budget Meeting on 22nd February with Liberal Democrat County Councillors voting against the plans.
Leicestershire had used funds from a reduction in Council Tax discounts on second homes to fund additional PCSOs across the county. We all know in these difficult times savings have to be made, but this cut by the Tories is likely to lead to fewer PCSOs on our streets.
Simon Galton, Leader of the Lib Dem group said, “PCSOs have made a huge contribution to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in Leicestershire. They provide a regular uniformed street presence in many local communities which is something the public say they want. I cannot understand why the Conservatives at County Hall are willing to put at risk what has been achieved through partnership working between the Police and the County and district councils.
Oadby County Councillor Dean Gamble said, “The Conservatives are out of step with local people on this: PCSOs and police officers patrolling our streets are a deterrent to crime and anti-social behaviour. Liberal Democrats believe that keeping the money back will do nothing to keep our streets safe. It should be used to support PCSOs.”
Local Liberal Democrats have launched a online petition calling on County Hall Conservatives to change reverse the decision. Please sign it here: http://www.campaigns.libdems.org.uk/SavePCSOs
Photo credit: Blue lamp (© Bob Harvey) / CC BY-SA 2.0