Please click on this link to sign the petition “Re thinking the budget for Essex Police to save PCSO s jobs”:- https://petition.parliament.uk/signatures/9383919/verify/5dH5Wf4jSsPAbFq2jqc
The plan currently under consultation proposes to reduce PCSO numbers from 251 -> 60. Essex Police have clearly faced some very difficult challenges with regards to savings demanded by the government in Westminster. However, George Osbourne found money in the Autumn Statement.
As well as his U-turn on tax credits, he also performed a U-turn on proposed cuts to the police service. “The police protect us, and we’re going to protect the police,” said the Chancellor, as if he had forgotten that until then, the person from whom the police most needed protecting was himself. Police chiefs had been warned to expect cuts, but they are not going to happen this year. We need to make sure that this reprieve is reflected in Essex as retained PCSO’s.
You will have an opportunity to directly influence this debate in a few months time. In May 2016 the role of Essex Police and Crime Commissioner is up for election. I supported Nick Alston (Con) last time around and had high hopes. However, that was a mistake – he has simply not been visible. The heart of the PCC role is to represent the people of Essex to the authorities and not the other way around. Sadly Nick Alston seems to have been captured by the machine.
So – Sign the petition, and vote for the UKIP candidate in May.