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Lib Dem Leader backs campaign to save Somerset's PCSOs
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Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg MP has visited Taunton Deane to support a popular community policing initiative. The boxing club at Taunton Fire Station is a collaboration between the police and the fire service to improve community engagement and tackle crime.


Nick Clegg was welcomed by Taunton constituency MP Jeremy Browne and Sgt Andy Murphy from Avon and Somerset Police. Jeremy Browne has been campaigning against plans by Conservative-controlled Somerset County Council to cut £129,000 from the budget for police community support officers in April 2010.

Nick Clegg said:

“I was impressed by the boxing club at Taunton Fire Station. It is very professionally organised and it is obviously well supported. This is a great example of the police working alongside other organisations to engage with the community and reduce crime. I am a strong supporter of neighbourhood-level policing because it really can make a positive difference."

"There has clearly been a big effort in Taunton Deane to increase the level of visible policing and respond to public anxiety about crime. It would be a serious mistake to cut the budget for community policing in Somerset and I hope that everyone will instead work together to support the police.”

Jeremy Browne said:

“Nick Clegg has visited police projects all over the country but he was still clearly impressed by the innovative community-policing in Taunton Deane. There is widespread public concern about crime and anti-social behaviour and it is essential that we maintain a visible police presence. Taunton Deane residents deserve to feel safe in their homes and secure in their communities."

Government Minister supports Browne campaign to save Somerset PCSOs

The Government Minister for Policing, Crime and Counter-Terrorism has said he would be "disappointed" if Conservative-controlled Somerset County Council slashed £129,000 from the budget for community support officers. David Hanson MP was responding to a House of Commons debate initiated by Taunton constituency MP Jeremy Browne.

Mr Hanson revealed the wider concern that exists in police ranks, saying that "I know the police authority would also be disappointed" by the proposed Conservative budget cut. "The 11 neighbourhood police beat teams that operate in the Taunton constituency, and the PCSOs who support them, are extremely valuable in helping to drive down crime and, ultimately, reduce the burden on ratepayers as a consequence" added Mr Hanson.

The Minister made an important commitment to maintain Home Office funding for PCSOs in Somerset and said that "any reduction in their numbers, outside the Home Office contribution, would be regretted". And Mr Hanson expressed anxiety that cutting the PCSO budget could lead to "more social dysfunction and difficulties on the streets" if Somerset County Council reneged on its previous funding commitments.

Earlier in the debate, Yeovil constituency MP David Laws revealed new evidence that the Somerset County Council Conservative Cabinet is hardening its plan to push through the £129,000 cut. He highlighted new executive recommendations showing Conservative councillors have already factored the dramatic budget reduction into their policy calculations. The Somerset County Council withdrawal of support for community policing was also criticised during the debate by Somerton and Frome MP David Heath.

During his opening speech, Jeremy Browne MP highlighted public concern in Somerset about crime and gave his strong support to community-level policing. He described the secret £129,000 budget cut as "shocking" and criticised the lack on consultation by Somerset County Council. Almost 1,000 residents have now joined Jeremy Browne's on-line campaign against the budget cut

PCSO Funding Cut Stays on the Table 

The Liberal Democrat group at County Hall once again challenged the Conservative administration to confirm or deny the proposed £129,000 cut in Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) funding during the next budget round.

At this morning's Full Council meeting the Conservatives voted against a motion from the Lib Dems, asking them to honour the 3-year funding commitment made by the council.

Somerset County Council, in conjunction with the Avon & Somerset Policy Authority, Trading Standards and other partners, does a great deal of work on the prevention of crime in our county. This is best demonstrated through our continued funding of the PCSOs, who are increasingly popular with their communities and especially in providing diversion activities for young people.

'Binge' drinking and anti-social behaviour - even violent crime and murder, which leaves our communities reeling - can be related to under-age sales. The two 'specialist' PCSOs who have been working with our Trading Standards, specifically look for under-age sales of alcohol in clubs, pubs and off-licences. This work has been hugely successful but is now under threat.

Cathy Bakewell, Shadow Cabinet member for Community Safety, said of the decision:

"I am extremely disappointed that the Conservative group could not be swayed by our strong defence of PCSOs and unanimously voted against our motion. Indeed one of their group even suggested that the council should not fund Somerset's PCSOs at all".

Public support for Liberal Democrat campaign to save local community police

Jeremy Browne MP (right) and councillor Alan Wedderkopp campaigning in Taunton High Street against the Conservative plan to cut £129,000 from the budget for PCSOs.

Taunton constituency MP Jeremy Browne has stepped up his campaign against Conservative-controlled Somerset County Council cutting £129,000 from the police community support officer budget in April 2010.
He has been collecting signatures in Taunton High Street asking the Somerset public to help 'Save our PCSOs' and over 700 people have also signed up to the campaign on Facebook.
In the House of Commons Jeremy Browne has tabled a motion supporting Somerset's PCSOs, which has also been signed by Yeovil MP David Laws and Somerton & Frome MP David Heath. The motion says:
2137: POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICER BUDGET IN SOMERSET
That this House deplores the proposal by Conservative-controlled Somerset County Council to cut £129,000 from the budget for police community support officers from 1 April 2010; believes that the democratic process was not enhanced by the decision of the Conservatives to keep this policy secret in advance of the Somerset County Council elections in June 2009; further believes that there is considerable concern across Somerset about crime and anti-social behaviour; applauds the work of police community support officers; notes the success of neighbourhood policing at tackling crime and reassuring the public; and supports the Somerset Liberal Democrat campaign to prevent Conservative-controlled Somerset County Council cutting more than a quarter of the funding from the police community support officer budget next year.
Jeremy Browne said:
"People like to see a visible police presence in their communities. I am genuinely astonished that the Conservatives want to make drastic cuts to the budget for Somerset's police community support officers.

Jeremy Browne MP, Cllr Nicci Court and a Taunton PCSO
Jeremy Browne MP, Cllr Nicci Court and a Taunton PCSO

Conservatives plan to slash £129,000 from funding for Community Police


Jeremy Browne MP and Lyngford councillor Nicci Court supporting the police community support officers in Taunton Deane.

Taunton constituency MP Jeremy Browne has criticised Conservative-controlled Somerset County Council for planning to cut the budget for police community support officers. The Conservatives want to slash funding for PCSOs in Somerset by £129,000 in April 2010.

Jeremy Browne said:

"The Conservatives plan to cut £129,000 from the budget for police community support officers in Somerset.

"There is widespread public anxiety about crime and anti-social behaviour. So it is extraordinary that the Conservatives think the best response is to cut community-level police patrols.

"What adds insult to injury is the Conservative council spending £50,000 on job advertising for a new chief executive. I think most people would rather see their Council Tax being spent on maintaining a visible police presence in their community.

"The Conservative cut in funding for the police was kept secret before the County Council elections in June. They seem to believe that tackling crime is a low priority and we currently have too many police community support officers.

"The Conservatives should have been honest enough to make their opposition to police community support officers clear before the County Council elections."

 
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