Police Community Support Officers in Warwickshire down by -24

Numbers Down

The number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) on the streets has fallen dramatically by 28% 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 Warwickshire.

A total of 62 full-time equivalent PCSOs were employed in Warwickshire as of September 2022. This is in stark contrast to the 87 that were employed in March 2015 – meaning there have been 24 PCSOs cut from Warwickshire in that time. 

The Liberal Democrats have accused the Conservative Government of letting communities in Warwickshire 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.

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse 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.

Responding to the figures, Cllr Jerry Roodhouse, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Warwickshire, said:

“These shocking figures prove that Conservative Ministers are yet again failing to prevent crime in Warwickshire. 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 into oblivion.”

“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.”

ENDS 

Notes to Editors:

Source: Home Office, Police Workforce: England and Wales, Jan 2023, Table H7 (various editions) and Table 3. Strength figures include those staff on career breaks or maternity/paternity leav

Warwickshire Council Tax

That time of year again.

Liberal Democrat Warwickshire County Council Group release its amendment to the Conservatives administration budget proposals which will be debated 7th February at Shire Hall Warwick.

Housing Support for Older People tackling the crisis in the NHS allowing more residents to stay in there homes.

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse said in releasing their amendment that

“The Liberal Democrat group has used the following three principles of a Fairer Council, More Caring and a Greener Council. The Government has once again chosen to use Council Tax along with the Adult Social Care precept as a way of shifting responsibility away from itself onto local councils. The growing demands on our services – and in particular our growing older population as demonstrated by the recent census (2021 population and households) means that we are left with no real choice but to set the council tax to protect the vulnerable. We are proposing a 3.94% CT which we consider will protect services to the vulnerable and reduce the proposed cuts.

We are keeping Libraries open as warm hubs and saving children crossing patrols, we are stopping the proposed reduction in children centres along with not taking the saving on youth centres these are but a few of the areas that we do not want to see slashed even further we are investing more in outdoor education, and with the crisis in the NHS we have also manged to shift resources towards housing support for older people allowing people to stay in there own homes and supporting community transport initiatives. We will also be supporting each elected member with an increase in capital spending for highways work in their division”

Residents will also get hit seeing the Police tax going .

Our priorities are to make Warwickshire:

  • Fairer ­– giving opportunities for all
  • Caring – for all our residents
  • Greener – accelerating the work needed

Liberal Democrats will invest in:

  • The Forestry Team to meet the increase in demand and provide resilience to support emerging climate change initiatives, such as tree planting schemes.
  • Community transport – to support the introduction and development of school travel plans as part of activity to further strengthen the ECO schools pillar on transport across Warwickshire
  • The Outdoor Education and Learning Strategy, building the capacity to enable young people in Warwickshire to experience activities within the County
  • Increase Community development activity by supporting Councillors in their Divisions with the work of empowering local communities. 
  • Increasing the highways delegated funding, enabling local councillors to do more in their communities.

We will not take forward any cuts that we believe will have a detrimental impact on our communities and vulnerable people cross Warwickshire. We will not:

  • withdraw funding for the School Crossing Patrol Service
  • reduce or stop bus subsidies so Warwickshire has a mostly commercial network
  • take the benefit of increased income from use of our Youth and Community Centres, instead reinvesting the income in the service offer and facilities.
  • support a further redesign and reduction in the number of Children and Family centres.
  • rely on increased partner contributions to support critical domestic abuse and substance misuse detox activity
  • support the closure of libraries or reduction in their opening hours: these are vital places for residents and children.

Free School Meals

Liberal Democrat Warwickshire County Council Group are calling for greater entitlement of free scool meals.Cllr Jerry Roodhouse said that

Support the campaign to expand free school meals

“The Liberal Democrat group on Warwickshire County Council are calling for greater Free School Meal access. We are calling for WCC to bring forward proposals that aim to significantly increase the take-up of Free School Meals, including considering the option of automatic opt-in and how this can lawfully be done and that the Government funds local authorities accordingly”

Cllr Roodhouse went on to say,

“With the increased costs on families the Government can quickly ensure that children get a meal and also the school gets extra pupil premium into its budget, it is a no brainer which can be implemented now”

Government acces and information https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals

Liberal Democrat priorities are to make Warwickshire:

  • Fairer ­– giving opportunities for all
  • Caring – for all our residents
  • Greener – accelerating the work needed

Act for Free School Meals

County Lib Dems call for action on Free School Meals

Cllrs Jerry Roodhouse & Kate Rolfe questioned the Conservative adminstration of Warwickshire County council to do more in getting support for Free School Meals and to lobby the Government.

Cllr Roodhouse stated that the Goverrnment need to invest more than £2.34 per meal. Jamie Oliver has also been calling for action as quoted by in this link BBC

Cllr Kate Rolfe wanted to know, With inflation for food now at 16% many families are being hit hard financially and free school meals play an increasingly important part in helping those families with children. For families on universal credit the current cut off point for eligibility is a household income of less than £7,400 per year, after tax and not including any benefits. This limit was fixed in 2018 and has not been increased. Will the Portflio Holder lobby government to increase this limit in line with inflation?

County video from the Council meeting

Parking Chaos

County Needs To act

Lib Dem Cllr Bill Gifford has been asking the question over car parking machines

“I am sure you are aware that many of the on-street parking machines in Leamington town centre and in other towns are not working and can only be used as a location for RingGo. This not only inconveniences shoppers – and older shoppers in particular – but it is also a barrier to people going to the town centre, at a time when many shops are already struggling. When does the County Council intend to repair or replace these parking machines so that those who can only pay by cash or card can do so?”

The Conservative asdminstration needs to Council video answer

Suopport towards Utilty Bills

We know that sudden unexpected costs can create real challenges for residents who are experiencing financial hardship.  Vouchers towards utility bills are available for families and households in Warwickshire using pre-payment meters, paying by direct debit or on receipt of bill. 

If you, or anyone you know, needs help please apply before 16 December. Call 0800 4081448 or 01926 359182 to talk to us in confidence.  

This support is provided by Warwickshire Local Welfare Scheme and funded by the Department for Work and Pensions’ Household Support Fund.    

www.warwickshire.gov.uk/localwelfarescheme