Police Community Support Officers in Bedfordshire cut by 55%

The number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) on Bedfordshire streets has fallen dramatically by 55% since 2015.

Analysis of new Home Office statistics commissioned by the Liberal Democrats from the House of Commons Library has shown the drastic cuts to PCSOs in Bedfordshire. A total of 47 full-time equivalent PCSOs were employed as of September 2022. This is in stark contrast to the 105 that were employed in March 2015 - meaning there have been 58 PCSOs cut from Bedfordshire Police Force in that time.

The Liberal Democrats have accused the Conservative Government of letting communities in Bedford Borough down by taking Police Community Support Officers off the streets, leading to more crimes going unsolved and victims going without justice.

The same trend is being seen up and down the country, with the number of active PCSOs falling by an average of 33% in England and Wales since 2015. Nationally, England and Wales have lost 4,068 PCSOs since 2015. However, Bedfordshire has had one of the largest cuts to PCSOs and sit 8th worse out of 43 Police Forces in England and Wales.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Police, Councillor Tim Caswell has slammed the Conservatives for this move, which means that less police officers are visible on the streets, building relationships - and trust - with local people. The party has called for a return to proper community policing.

Councillor Caswell said "These shocking figures prove that Conservative Ministers are yet again failing to prevent crime in Bedford Borough. They should be ashamed. Police Community Support Officers play a vital role in keeping our communities safe. The Government should be empowering them to do their job, not slashing their numbers.

"Liberal Democrats are calling for a return to proper community policing, where officers are visible, trusted and known personally to local people. We will build communities where people are safe - and feel safe, too."