Comment | Read Comments (3)

BLAENAU Gwent council will pay £165,000 to help fund the recruitment of more Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) across the borough.

The council will pay the money over the next three years, which, alongside contributions from the Home Office, will allow up to six more officers to be recruited.

It is not yet known where the PCSOs will be based, and this will be decided after further discussions between the council and Gwent police.

Blaenau Gwent council initiated the scheme and the move follows similar ones by Torfaen council, Chepstow Town council and Newport Transport, who all contribute financially to PCSOs.

A report addressed to council's Environment and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee notes that residents' perceptions of crime and disorder remain high, despite the borough seeing a general fall in crime trends.

The report also draws on a 2005 Resident Satisfaction Survey, which concluded that at least one in four residents (24 per cent) felt there is a lack of police in their area.

Council leader, Des Hillman said the council must ensure people feel safe in their homes and on the streets. He said the extra officers will help the council and police to work together and address issues raised by residents at at PACT (Police and Communities working Together) and Connect 2 Listen meetings.

Chief Superintendent, Alun Thomas, said he welcomed the agreement.

He said the police has invested heavily in introducing neighbourhood policing teams and community meetings over the last few years.

He said crime has fallen in Blaenau Gwent by 26.8 per cent over the last three years, adding that more PCSOs will help to build on that success.

It is estimated that each officer will cost £31, 288.

A date has not yet been set for when the new PCSOs will start work.

1:28pm Thursday 17th July 2008

Print

Email this

Comment