ePetition - Protecting our Frontline Policing

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Protecting our Frontline Policing

We the undersigned petition Brighton & Hove Council to oppose any cuts to Police Community Support Officers either by the SPA or the Government. As residents of Brighton, Hove and Portslade we urge the city council, through its Community Safety Forum and representative on Sussex Police Authority (SPA), to suppport our PCSOs who are a vital part of Neighbourhood Policing Teams, are the eyes and ears of the police in our communities, and are the visible and approachable face of Sussex Police in local neighbourhoods. PCSOs have proved themselves invaluable in reducing crime and the fear of crime in the areas in which we live.

In conjunction with the e-petition there will also be a paper petition that will be presented at the Council meeting on the 21st October.

This ePetition ran from 05/08/2010 to 20/10/2010 and has now finished.

162 people signed this ePetition.

Council response

The Chairman of the Community Safety Forum, Councillor Simson gave the following response at her meeting on 18 January 2011:

The Chairman referred to a recent letter received from the Home Office by the Chief Executive in response to a letter sent following an earlier
Notice of Motion relating to this subject. The letter from John Bowland dated 7 January 2011 stated :

" Dear Mr Barradell
I have been asked to thank you for your letter of 1 November to the Home Secretary about Nreighbourhood Policinbg and the work of the Police Community Support Officers (PCSO's),and to reply. I am sorry that you have had to wait so long for this reply.

In recognition of the essential role of the PCSOs play in delivering visible and available policing for communities, the Neighbourhood Policing Fund (as announced to Parliament on 16 December) will be maintained over the next two financial years (to 31 March 2013) before being devolved to directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners.

Though the Home Office provides, in the Neighbourhood Policing Fund, a substantial part of the salary costs of PCSOs, there is no intention that central government should be the only source of funds for this purpose. Police authority revenue from local taxation and partnership funding by local authorities are also important means of providing these salary costs. The Government is clear that forces should be focusing on finding efficiencies in back-office and support functions to protect frontline policing."

Chief Superintendent Bartlett was present at the meeting and noted all that had been said and in responding agreed that the role of PCSOs was valuable and confirmed that it was fully recognised. Whilst undoubtedly there would be rigorous constraints and cuts in spending over future years, it was not intended there would be any cuts to this area of the Police's service without serious prior consideration of other available options.

The content of the petition was received and the response given was noted.

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