Crime chief candidates unite in opposition over neighbourhood policing cuts in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire

Plans to halve the number of police community support officers (PCSOs) from 80 to 40 were announced in October by Cambridgeshire Constabulary to help tackle a deficit of £6.6 million.

Further changes which are being introduced include scrapping the police community safety team and closing enquiry offices in March, Wisbech and Huntingdon.

Chief constable Nick Dean has previously admitted that the cuts will “have an impact on policing” but insisted the job losses will be mitigated by a rise in officers as part of the Government’s national allocation of 20,000 more roles.

This could see a further 82 people brought into the force next year.

Now, after a virtual meeting with affected staff, Conservative candidate Darryl Preston, Labour’s Nicky Massey and Liberal Democrat Rupert Moss-Eccardt have issued a joint statement urging Mr Dean and acting commissioner Ray Bisby to suspend the plans.

The statement reads: “As candidates for Police and Crime Commissioner of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough we all agree that the decision should be postponed until after the May elections to enable a proper process, including public scrutiny by the democratically elected representative of our county.”

UNISON Eastern regional organiser Alex Porter said: “We welcome this clear message uniting the political spectrum against these harmful police cuts.

“Slashing the police team will hit communities across Cambridgeshire, with the county’s most vulnerable suffering the most.

“It’s not right for an unelected PCC – who should have been out of office six months ago – to wreck neighbourhood policing. The constabulary must do the right thing and delay any decision until after the election.”

Mr Preston said: “I have been contacted by many residents who have serious concerns regarding these cuts.

“I have therefore written to the chief constable requesting that the decision to remove these posts be postponed until after the May PCC elections.

“This will enable for an elected representative of the residents of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to scrutinise this decision on their behalf, ensuring they are in receipt of an effective and efficient police service meeting the needs of all our residents.”

Ms Massey said: “Culling the community safety team and cutting the number of PCSOs by half is short-sighted.

“Our communities value their working relationships with their PSCOs, who often attend neighbourhood and resident meetings and who are part of the very community they work in. Losing that connection is losing further public confidence in our local policing.

“The plan need to be stopped in its tracks and that is what I would plan to do if I am elected in May 2021.”

Mr Moss-Eccardt said: “I was horrified to learn of the planned cuts to police staff numbers.

“It is clearly the wrong direction and I am yet to see any proper assessment of the impact of cuts.

“These damaging cuts must be stopped until they can be proven to be necessary and the full impact has been considered. I don’t think either has been proven at the moment.”