A LABOUR MP has grilled the Home Secretary over the Government’s decision cut funding for police community support officers.
The Home Office is reducing Kent’s budget for PCSOs by £3.5million.
The Kent Police Authority, which slammed the decision, had budgeted for an extra 474 support officers by April 2008 but can now only afford 273.
The MP for Dover and Deal, Gwyn Prosser, questioned John Reid at the Home Affairs Select Committee meeting this week.
Mr Prosser asked him: “Are you aware how shocked and disappointed Kent Police is to find the Home Office has severely cut its funding for the recruitment of PCSOs and what do you say to the Chief Constable of Kent who says that he will not now be able to properly implement his neighbourhood policing plans across the county?”
In response, the Home Secretary said the police service had informed his department that constabularies could now meet their targets and roll out neighbourhood policing with a lesser number of PCSOs.
Mr Reid told him that excellent progress had been made nationally with fewer support officers than expected.
He said the decision was taken after the police service pressed for greater flexibility in its funding.
The Home Office said last week that Kent Police was to receive an extra £2m next year in its overall budget.
POSTED: 13/12/2006 10:06:43
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