30 PCSO roles to go despite extra cash

Half of the police and community support officer (PCSO) roles at risk in Cheshire will be lost, it has been confirmed.

Cheshire Police had put forward plans to reduce PCSO officers from 87 to 27 - but after receiving permission for a higher than usual increase in tax, now 30 roles will be lost rather than 60.

Labour Police and Crime Commissioner Dan Price received permission from the government to increase the police's share of council tax by 6.7% overall.

Cheshire's Police and Crime Panel has now backed the plans for the increase, which works out at an extra £18.50 a year for a Band D home.

The increase of the share of council tax paid towards policing - the precept - is usually capped at £15 for a Band D property.

But Cheshire Police has been allowed to add an extra £3.50 this year.

Dan Price told a meeting of Cheshire's Police and Crime Panel that he did not receive permission from the government for the full amount he had requested.

He said the increase was "enough to make a real difference".

"Following meetings with the chief constable, it was agreed this was enough to save 30 of the 60 PCSO roles, and PCSOs have now been informed," he said.

He added it had been an "incredibly difficult time" for PCSOs.

The 30 PCSO roles will be replaced in neighbourhood policing teams by named officers released from other teams, Dan Price added.

The panel backed the precept, with the addition of two recommendations around more updates from the PCC on neighbourhood policing and the costs of his office.

Seven members voted in favour of the increase, with one voting against.

Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X.