Telford MP against Police Patrol cap
The PCC has announced plans to restrict Police Community Support Officer patrols after 8pm
Last updated 10th Sep 2025
Telford MP Shaun Davies has called on the Government to send a “very clear message” to West Mercia’s Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) John Campion, demanding he scraps plans to restrict Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) patrols after 8pm.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Davies pressed ministers to intervene after West Mercia Police proposed introducing the shift cap as part of a £350,000 cost-cutting measure. He argued that the funds should instead be found by reducing administrative overheads, including costs linked to the PCC’s office and Hindlip Hall headquarters.
The Labour MP, who has previously raised the issue with the Home Secretary, urged Commons Leader Lucy Powell to schedule a debate on the importance of neighbourhood policing. In response, Ms Powell backed his concerns, saying:
“We want to see more neighbourhood police officers, we want to see them patrolling, and we particularly want to see them patrolling our streets at the times of day when crime is most likely to be committed, or when people want to feel safe.”
Mr Davies welcomed the Government’s support, noting that ministers had provided West Mercia Police with resources to expand neighbourhood policing.
“The Government gave West Mercia funding this year to hire 20 extra PCSOs. The public expect more neighbourhood police presence, not less,” he said. “I know that, Telford residents know that, and I think John knows it as well – it’s good to hear the Government make it absolutely clear.”
The MP is now urging local residents to sign and share a petition opposing the cuts, warning that the proposals risk undermining public safety despite record levels of investment in policing.
In December, the Government announced a £1 billion boost to police budgets, including £200 million earmarked for 13,000 new neighbourhood police officers. The Chancellor’s Spending Review also confirmed a £2 billion increase in police spending power over the next three years.
Mr Davies said the Commissioner should rethink the plans in light of this support:
“With government backing for more officers on the beat, there is no justification for reducing PCSO patrols. West Mercia Police must reverse this decision.”
In response, Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion defended the changes, stressing they were necessary due to rising costs.
“Our grant increased by £9 million, but our wage bill increased by £10 million, so something had to give,” he explained. “The Chief Constable decided that we would not reduce the number of PCSO hours, just adjust when they’re working. It simply means they won’t be patrolling quite as late in the evening. At the same time, we are putting more officers into local policing teams, so there’s actually greater capacity overall.”
Mr Campion rejected claims that the changes would leave communities feeling unsafe.
"Communities in Telford and across West Mercia still have a very visible and accessible police force,” he said.
He said the alternative to adjusting shifts would have been to reduce the number of PCSOs altogether.
“We had a choice: either have fewer PCSOs, which I don’t want to see, or alter their hours slightly. But let’s be clear — if government funding kept pace with the costs of employing staff, we wouldn’t have to make these kinds of decisions.”
Mr Campion also highlighted that 29 police constables, two sergeants, and 20 PCSOs are being reassigned into local teams — though only 12 of these are brand new recruits.
“The community want their officers based in the heart of their towns and villages, visible and accessible, and that’s what we’re delivering,” he said. “But we need to focus on keeping crime low and supporting victims, not on fake campaigns around PCSO hours.”
He added that data shows antisocial behaviour tends to peak in the early evening and declines by around 7–8pm, meaning PCSOs will still be deployed at the times they are most needed.
“There isn’t a reduction in patrols,” he stressed. “There are more officers in those teams, and PCSOs will continue to be on duty when they’re best suited to tackle issues causing harm in our communities.”