The new front line

Check out this report in Beds on Sunday online for information on Bedfordshire Police's new budget which Police and Crime Commissioner Ollie Martins says will protect our frontline PCSOs. That's police community support officers who are what you see on the streets, in the schools and in the shops these days. They are the new front line. 

I'll be joining other town and parish councillors on 21 Feb to hear Ollie Martins outline his vision for the future. I'm hoping the new budget means we can step back from suggestions of parishes "funding" a PCSO as I've never been convinced that will work. The price of retaining PCSOs, who used to be centrally funded, is an increase in the police precept bringing in an extra half million pounds in revenue.

This money will be used out there, on the streets and in the community and sounds a bargain.

How much are your PCSOs?

Parish and town council funding of PCSOs is back on the agenda. In Cranfield we went down this route a few years back and then the scheme was withdrawn. There are issues about whether you have any managerial control over the police community support officer you are funding and the police’s right to withdraw them at any time for other priorities.  

At the recent Bedfordshire Councils Planning Consortium meeting in Flitwick , Sergeant Andy Rivers explained that a PCSO costs £51,000 of which £24,000 is their salary.

Bedfordshire Police are looking for £33,000 to be paid by parish councils plus £280 per month if a car is used. Parish councils should have received a letter explaining this. Some parish councils want to fund their own PCSO. 

 A review of PCSOs will be held in April.  A Harlington parish councillor at the meeting pointed out that there is a legal difficulty for a parish council to fund any facility, which is not unique to it. If that difficulty can be overcome then parish councils may be willing to contribute financially to fund a PCSO. There would have to be discussions between National Association of Local Councils, Central Beds Council and the Police.
Source – minutes of the BCPC meeting 13 December 2013

 
PCSOs were introduced in 2003 and while the tabloids attacked their lack of an arrest warrant, there are many examples of committed, boots on the ground, community involvement. Home Office funding is now being withdrawn and numbers have been scaled back. Pictured above is Cumbria's PCSO Jonathan Mann who won the 2011 Janes' Police Review PCSO of the year award. Jonathan has run very successful Junior PCSO schemes helping children to be come more aware of the police and to engage in worthwhile community activities - especially when school is out.

Cold calling and St Johns Ambulance

Despite signs saying we are a No Cold Calling Zone in a way we aren't because it still happens. From J-Witnesses who I delay considerably from their mission to power companies to blokes who have told me my fascias are looking a bit falling down to...on your bikes guys. Anyway here is an update via Cranfield Parish Council and our local PCSO.


To Beds Police: Members of the Council have asked me to let you know that two men who claimed to be from St John Ambulance, arrived at PCllr Alan Morris's doorstep asking for a commitment to fund St John’s Ambulance; they had a form of identification however they claimed that the organisation had informed the Parish Council they would be passing through the village knocking on doors asking for money.  The Clerk confirmed that no contact had been received from St Johns.

I hope that this information is of help, and would be grateful if you would let me have any information on your findings.




PCSO Juliet Wright (nearly said Bravo) replied


The control room confirmed to us that St Johns Ambulance had contacted them sometime ago to say they would be in the Central Beds area.
Reports have also come in from other villages to say they have had them canvassing as well.
If anyone is any doubt about cold callers they should always ring 101 to report it as its always best to be on the safe side.Regards 






You can get Juliet on Juliet.Wright@Bedfordshire.pnn.Police.uk