Essex Police faces a £5.3 million funding shortfall, leading to 99 PCSOs and 60 staff cuts, impacting crime-fighting efforts.
Essex: Big changes are coming for Essex Police. They plan to cut 99 police community support officers, known as PCSOs. This is due to a serious funding shortfall of £5.3 million.
Roger Hirst, the police and crime commissioner, shared the news. He mentioned that up to 60 civilian staff might also lose their jobs. This funding issue is a big deal for local crime-fighting efforts.
Hirst pointed out that these cuts could hurt the police’s ability to tackle crime. He blamed the government for not providing enough funding, calling it “perverse.” This is surprising, especially since the government promised to add 13,000 more officers for neighborhood policing.
Last month, the government announced a new £100 million fund. This money is meant to help recruit those 13,000 additional officers and support staff. It’s part of a larger £1 billion plan to improve neighborhood policing.
Hirst expressed frustration over the cuts. He said they contradict the government’s commitment to safer streets. He believes the funding they receive is not enough to maintain the current level of neighborhood policing.
Even with an increase in council tax, there’s still a big gap in funding. The average council tax for a band D property will rise by £13.95. But this still leaves a shortfall of over £12 million, which has been reduced to £5.3 million through cuts.
Hirst emphasized the importance of PCSOs. They are the eyes and ears of the community, providing valuable local intelligence. However, he noted that police constables have more powers, which is why they need to keep their officer numbers up.
These cuts reverse years of investment in Essex Police. Hirst mentioned that the force had grown significantly, with over 3,755 officers by March 2023. This is an increase of more than 900 officers since May 2016.
Thanks to this growth, crime rates have dropped. Incidents of anti-social behavior fell by 72%, and burglaries decreased by 51% since April 2016. Overall crime in Essex dropped by 6.7% in the last year.
Hirst said they’ve built a strong police force that effectively reduces crime. However, these cuts will slow their progress in fighting crime, including serious issues like homicide and domestic abuse.
Despite proposing a tax increase and finding new savings, Essex Police still faces a £5.3 million shortfall. Hirst explained that the Home Office confirmed there would be no flexibility in funding. If they cut more than 57 officers, they risk losing £7.9 million in funding.
With this situation, Hirst had to consider a crisis budget. He faced a tough choice: cut 216 police officers or find another way to meet the deficit. To avoid losing so many officers, he proposed reducing the number of other staff members.
Hirst expressed disappointment and confusion over the government’s lack of support. He feels it’s frustrating that they want to invest in policing but don’t provide the necessary funding.
