Since early September it has been known that the Metropolitan Police were considering scrapping all 1,000 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) working in neighbourhoods in London, and across London Liberal Democrats have been campaigning to save them ever since.
The pressures facing the Met’s budget were initially so great that Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Met Commissioner, even predicted that London could finally lose between 5000 and 8000 police officer posts in an interview he gave to the Evening Standard in mid-October.
However after extensive campaigning against these cuts, and of course the horrific events in Paris, a decision was made by the Home Office to largely protect the grant given to the Met in future years.
The announcement that PCSOs will be protected in London was made by Sir Bernard in response to questioning last week by Caroline Pidgeon at City Hall’s Police and Crime Committee.
Following his announcement Caroline said:
“This is great news and a huge victory for everyone who values community policing. Getting rid of London’s Police Community Support Officers would have seen London return to the dark days of remote and inaccessible policing. Police Community Support Officers play a crucial role in building up relations and engaging with local communities, including the collection of vital intelligence for effective policing. London is a safer place because they exist.”
For further details see this report on Mayorwatch website.
The pressures facing the Met’s budget were initially so great that Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Met Commissioner, even predicted that London could finally lose between 5000 and 8000 police officer posts in an interview he gave to the Evening Standard in mid-October.
However after extensive campaigning against these cuts, and of course the horrific events in Paris, a decision was made by the Home Office to largely protect the grant given to the Met in future years.
The announcement that PCSOs will be protected in London was made by Sir Bernard in response to questioning last week by Caroline Pidgeon at City Hall’s Police and Crime Committee.
Following his announcement Caroline said:
“This is great news and a huge victory for everyone who values community policing. Getting rid of London’s Police Community Support Officers would have seen London return to the dark days of remote and inaccessible policing. Police Community Support Officers play a crucial role in building up relations and engaging with local communities, including the collection of vital intelligence for effective policing. London is a safer place because they exist.”
For further details see this report on Mayorwatch website.