Latest news with #PCSOs
Fashion United
12-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
UK retailers welcome two billion pound funding for police
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves outlined a more than two billion pound increase in police spending as part of the government's latest two trillion pound Spending Review. Reeves outlined the plans during a speech on June 11, in which she said the funding reflected a 2.3 percent per year increase in police spending power 'to protect our people, our homes and our streets'. The funding also backs the government's 'Plan for Change' initiative, which aims to put 13,000 additional police officers, PCSOs and special constables into neighbourhood policing roles within England and Wales. The uptick in financing was welcomed by director of business and regulation at the British Retail Consortium (BRC), Tom Ironside, who noted that the organisation supported the plans outlined by Reeves, particularly 'with the huge rise in retail theft and the continued impact of violence and abuse on retail colleagues". Ironside did call on the chancellor, however, to funnel additional policing resources into directly addressing these issues, 'with over 2,000 incidents every day, and shoplifting, which costs retailers and their customers over four billion pounds a year'. Elsewhere, Ironside said the BRC further welcomed Reeves' plans to increase funding for skills and training, given that retail was 'one of the biggest spenders on upskilling its workforce'. He added that the organisation looks forward to seeing more detail on the planned Skills & Growth Levy. Reeves announced a 1.2 billion pound 'record investment' for skills a year, which she said would support 'over a million young people into training and apprenticeships'. 'We've seen growing businesses eager to recruit, look elsewhere. Potential wasted and enterprise frustrated,' she added.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Cash pressure forced PCSOs' 20:00 finish plan'
"Financial challenges" have forced the need for a consultation on police community support officers (PCSOs) finishing shifts by 20:00, a new police chief has admitted. Chief Constable Richard Cooper said West Mercia Police would be saving money on extra payment officers get when they work unsociable hours. Following a backlash over the plan by councillors in Shropshire last month, Mr Cooper stressed that if the consultation pans out, the same amount of PCSOs would still be working the same amount of hours. "Its not a case of do we need to save money, it's how do we save the money?," he told BBC Hereford & Worcester. "The cost of running the organisation is now stripping the funding available to us," he said, speaking on the mid-morning Hot Seat spot, on Thursday. "We've had to make some really difficult considerations. Our police staff and officers receive an unsociable hours payment for working into the evening and we need to save money." As chief constable Mr Cooper - who was appointed in March after working in the role temporarily since last August - is responsible for the delivery of operational policing across Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire. A caller on the programme's phone-in had asked about whether the PCSOs are needed later than 20:00. In response, Mr Cooper said many officers deal with anti-social behaviour issues, which generally "diminishes rapidly" by that time. "The data supports the fact the peak [for anti-social behaviour] is between 5 and 6. It starts dropping thereafter and stops dramatically after 8 o'clock," he explained. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Backlash over plan for no PCSOs after 8pm West Mercia Police
BBC News
01-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Chief constable defends West Mercia plan for no PCSOs after 20:00
"Financial challenges" have forced the need for a consultation on police community support officers (PCSOs) finishing shifts by 20:00, a new police chief has admitted. Chief Constable Richard Cooper said West Mercia Police would be saving money on extra payment officers get when they work unsociable hours. Following a backlash over the plan by councillors in Shropshire last month, Mr Cooper stressed that if the consultation pans out, the same amount of PCSOs would still be working the same amount of hours."Its not a case of do we need to save money, it's how do we save the money?," he told BBC Hereford & Worcester. "The cost of running the organisation is now stripping the funding available to us," he said, speaking on the mid-morning Hot Seat spot, on Thursday."We've had to make some really difficult considerations. Our police staff and officers receive an unsociable hours payment for working into the evening and we need to save money." Anti-social behaviour issues As chief constable Mr Cooper - who was appointed in March after working in the role temporarily since last August - is responsible for the delivery of operational policing across Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire. A caller on the programme's phone-in had asked about whether the PCSOs are needed later than 20:00. In response, Mr Cooper said many officers deal with anti-social behaviour issues, which generally "diminishes rapidly" by that time. "The data supports the fact the peak [for anti-social behaviour] is between 5 and 6. It starts dropping thereafter and stops dramatically after 8 o'clock," he explained. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Backlash over plan for no PCSOs after 8pm
A decision by a police force to stop employing PCSOs after 20:00 has faced a backlash from local Bayliss, Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner for West Mercia Police, said the change would mean no reduction in hours, with shifts switching to earlier in the he said the chief constable had suggested the 20:00 cut off, because it would mean PCSOs would not need to be paid an additional shift councillor Roger Evans, a member of the Lib Dem group which now runs the authority, said the idea was "intolerable". He said he could not recall the change being part of budget consultations and he worried it would leave some areas without police cover in the evenings."!A number of people have contacted me saying they're very upset about the loss of police and availability in the evenings, especially in the summer," he Bayliss said there would be extra police officers on duty to "bolster our availabilities to cover those night time economy areas".Viv Parry a Shropshire councillor in Ludlow, also raised concerns and said she has struggled to speak to a police officer about issues in her Bayliss said he shared her concerns about overstretched police officers and said: "The policing guarantee is likely to mean more officers in Ludlow int he very near future." This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Pembrokeshire Herald
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Students from Germany's twin town visit Haverfordwest
A CALL to move Pembroke Dock's police station from its Water Street location to a former council building has been narrowly backed despite safety fears raised by local residents. In an application recommended for approval at the April meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council's planning committee, Dyfed Powys Police, through agent Asbri Planning Ltd is seeking a change of use of the former Public Information Centre, Argyle Street, Pembroke Dock to a police station. A supporting statement says the former council public information centre has been deemed surplus to requirements due to changes in working patterns, with Dyfed Powys Police declaring a strong interest in purchasing the property 'to enable a more efficient building to house their new model hub for policing' than its current building in nearby Water Street. It adds: 'Should planning be approved, Dyfed Powys Police will progress with the sale of the current police station with the property then being advertised for sale on the open market.' The application had been recommended for approval at the March meeting but was deferred pending a site visit after concerns were raised by local residents that the scheme would have 'a significant impact on working families and children,' with emergency vehicles potentially leaving at high speed from the busy road. Speaking again at the April meeting on behalf of local residents, Lucy Cawley said the move would lead to 'constant streams of traffic' from emergency vehicles, with restricted access from the site. 'The primary concern is around safety, the access in and out is restricted with poor visibility,' she told committee members. A sticking point for members was a previous initial recommendation – since removed – of a second entrance for the site, with Cllr Tony Wilcox calling for further negotiation with Dyfed-Powys Police over that. His views were echoed by Cllr Micheal Williams who called for a deferral for discussions to 'satisfy everyone'. However, members were told they must decide on the application before them, with the applicants not intending to provide a second access. Local member Cllr Brian Hall had previously asked: 'Do we want a police station in Pembroke Dock, or do we want it to be like Milford Haven without one?' Cllr Mark Carter, who had seconded local member Cllr Brian Hall's move to approve and had previously proposed the site visit, said: 'We've got to take this, I'm sorry for the residents but we as members have got to grow up her and make a decision on this one way or another; if we do anything else it's just going to go round in circles.' The application was approved by eight votes to six. Dyfed-Powys Police was recently granted permission for a police unit for Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) at a former carpenter's unit in Feidr Castell, Fishguard. The force also announced it is to sell Narberth Police Station and relocate to a new base with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Services (MAWWFRS) in nearby Spring Gardens.
