Archived decisions

POLICE AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICERS

The Government made an announcement on 9 March 2005 regarding its plans to deliver neighbourhood police teams by the year 2008. This included making £428m available by 2007/08 to fund 24,000 PCSOs. The proposals set out how the further numbers will contribute to neighbourhood police teams consisting of Regular Officers, Special Constables and Community Support Officers.

The neighbourhood police teams will mean that local people will:- `know who their local police officers are and how to contact them, have a real say in local policing issues and setting local priorities and know how well their police are doing locally in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.'

On 29 March 2005 Hampshire Constabulary employed 26 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), 25 funded by the Home Office under the Neighbourhood Policing Fund and one funded by Welcome Break at Fleet Services. They have been trained and were operationally deployed from 2 May 2005.

The introduction of a Police Community Support Officer Scheme is intended to enhance rather than replace existing schemes being run by local authorities. Although the PCSO scheme is still in its infancy, it is anticipated that both schemes will work closely together and will be a further extension to the extended police family. Early indications are that PCSOs have been extremely successful in the areas where they have been working with communities to reduce anti-social behaviour and BCU Commanders who have PCSOs in their areas are already noticing the benefits of having them.

PCSOs are currently deployed as follows:-

Basingstoke 2

Central Hampshire 4

Havant 4

Portsmouth 6

Southampton 6

North East Hampshire 3

Fleet Services 1

Based on figures for Police Officer Strength in the year 2004, if we were to be allocated PCSOs in the same proportion as we have officers then the funding announced for 24,000 PCSOs would entitle Hampshire Constabulary to a further 650.

On 7 November 2005 Hampshire Police Authority and Hampshire Constabulary received correspondence outlining the allocation of funding for PCSOs through the Neighbourhood Policing Fund. Hampshire Constabulary is allocated 539 PCSOs with funding being at 100% in the year of recruitment with 75% continuation funding in the following years. Out of the 539, 219 must be employed between April 2006 and March 2007 and 320 between April 2007 and March 2008. In 2008/09 or soon thereafter, it is proposed to role Neighbourhood Funding and continuation funding for the three earlier rounds into general police grant.

The Authority recognises that the recruitment of additional PCSOs is essential to enable the Force to deliver Neighbourhood Policing but it also has to have regard to the significant financial implications for the Force of managing such a huge recruitment exercise as well as the need to address the issue of shortfalls in funding in future years.

MIKE ATTENBOROUGH-COX

Chairman

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