Met chief to be quizzed over drop in PCSOs (From Surrey Comet)

Met chief to be quizzed over drop in PCSOs

9:30am Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Top stories By David Lindsell

The new Metropolitan Police Commissioner will arrive in Kingston tonight to be asked questions about a reduction in police community support officers (PCSOs).

Bernard Hogan Howe will answer questions from the public and outline his vision for policing when he comes to Kingston University’s Penrhyn Road campus tonight at 7pm.

But he will be asked by a campaigner to explain a reduction in PCSOs across Kingston and Surbiton due to a recruitment freeze.

According to Liberal Democrat London Assembly campaigner Munira Wilson, there are six wards missing one PCSO, with St Mark’s and Surbiton Hill wards missing two out of three PCSOs.

Ten wards are already sharing sergeants.

Mrs Wilson, a 33-year-old former Twickenham councillor, said: "We have not seen any answers so far as to when the PCSO recruitment freeze will be lifted.

"I'd like to get some answers on it."

But her Tory rival London Assembly member Tony Arbour said: "To suggest they have uncovered a cover up is nonsense."

He said there were 36 more police officers and 57 more special constables on Kingston’s streets since Boris took over and said the introduction of single patrolling had led to 2,416 more patrols a year.

But he said: "Policing has got nothing to do with numbers of officers. What is important is what they are doing."

Peter Smyth, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said the Tory and Lib Dem coalition Government had forced through the 20 percent cuts that had caused staffing levels to drop.

He said: "The number of PCSOs is falling.

“I think it’s a bit naive and silly for people to be campaigning on one ticket when that party’s causing that problem.

"They are in Government. They have to take some Governmental responsibility. We have constantly heard it won’t affect the front line services."

In a statement the Met said it faced a significant financial challenge.

It said: "We are continually reviewing how to deploy our officers to provide the best possible service to Londoners.

"Officer numbers naturally fluctuate due to retirements and consideration must be given to the pause in recruitment which began in September 2009.

"However, since March 2011 we have been recruiting officers from serving Special Constables and PCSOs and are continuing to do so."