A template press release on the number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) in your area compared to the number of officers in 2015
[TEMPLATE]: Police Community Support Officers in [AREA] cut by [INSERT FIGURE - COLUMN K]
Please use this spreadsheet to fill in the press release below - Police community support officers strength, September 22.
This press release can be used in England and Wales.
Police Community Support Officers in [AREA] cut by [INSERT FIGURE - COLUMN K]
The number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) on the streets has fallen dramatically by [INSERT FIGURE - COLUMN L] since 2015.
Analysis of new Home Office statistics commissioned by the Liberal Democrats from the House of Commons Library has shown the drastic cuts to PCSOs in [AREA].
A total of [INSERT FIGURE - COLUMN J] full-time equivalent PCSOs were employed in [AREA] as of September 2022. This is in stark contrast to the [INSERT FIGURE - COLUMN B] that were employed in March 2015 - meaning there have been [INSERT FIGURE - COLUMN K] PCSOs cut from [INSERT POLICE FORCE] in that time.
The Liberal Democrats have accused the Conservative Government of letting communities in [AREA] down by taking Police Community Support Officers off the streets, leading to more crimes going unsolved and victims going without justice
The same trend is being seen up and down the country, with the number of active PCSOs falling by an average of 33% in England and Wales since 2015. Nationally, England and Wales have lost 4,068 PCSOs since 2015.
[INSERT SPOKESPERSON] has slammed the Conservatives for this move, which means that less police officers are visible on the streets, building relationships - and trust - with local people. The party has called for a return to proper community policing.
Responding to the figures, [INSERT SPOKESPERSON], Liberal Democrat spokesperson for [AREA], said:
“These shocking figures prove that Conservative Ministers are yet again failing to prevent crime in [AREA]. They should be ashamed.
“Police Community Support Officers play a vital role in keeping our communities safe. The Government should be empowering them to do their job, not slashing their numbers into oblivion.”
“Liberal Democrats are calling for a return to proper community policing, where officers are visible, trusted and known personally to local people. We will build communities where people are safe - and feel safe, too.” ENDS
Notes to editors
Source: Home Office, Police Workforce: England and Wales, Jan 2023, Table H7 (various editions) and Table 3. Strength figures include those staff on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave.