Plans to cut PCSO numbers under attack
FORMER police commissioner candidate Pete Levy has condemned mayor George Ferguson over his plans to axe 32 council-funded Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).
Mr Levy, ward councillor for Horfield and former member of the Avon and Somerset Police Authority, said: "During the recent elections for Police and Crime Commisioner we heard from thousands of Bristol residents whose single most important concern was the visibility of police and PCSOs in their communities.
"I'm not attempting to make a political point. The simple fact is that our residents must not just be safe, but they must feel safe, too."
The mayor has caused a storm of protests since revealing his proposed budget for next year which includes £35 million cuts.
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"If the safety and security of our residents isn't our concern, I don't know what is.
"I'm not interested in other local authorities. Bristol is unique and its police service has already suffered a total budget cut of £43 million over four years plus an additional unfair 'damping' reduction by the government of £20 million each year."
Police Commissioner Sue Mountstevens has urged Mr Ferguson to think again about cutting the PCSO funding.
Bristol South Labour MP Dawn Primarolo said: "Cutting PCSOs is a false economy and, heaped upon Government cuts to our police, will make our streets feel less safe."
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