Lincolnshire PCC doesn't believe cuts to PCSOs will lead to higher crime
Mark Jones is looking at cutting numbers by half
Lincolnshire's Police and Crime Commissioner says he doesn't believe cuts to the number of PCSOs in the county will lead to an increase in offences.
The force is looking at reducing numbers by almost half as it addresses funding issues.
A meeting today will see some councillors raise their concerns but Mark Jones says they're looking at new ways of working to address crime.
We will look to work in different ways
We've spoken to him about the issue:
He said: " Last year alone there were 12 additional community beat managers who work alongside those neighbourhood areas so it's not that there's a gap that will be left."
"It is a case that the Chief will have to organise his neighbourhood policing teams differently, use the PCSOs that remain in a different way."
"We are seeing this in other areas, Norfolk for example doesn't have any PSCOs at all."
Investments are being made in area that really matter
"Kent has just announced it's reducing around 250 from its cohort of PCSOs."
"As we've seen the number of police officers go up it is that in some areas we're seeing the number of PCSOs go down."
"What is really important to understand is that investments are being made in key areas that really do matter".
"15 new people will be going into our control rooms to improve 101 answering times."
"There's no one I've ever met who's said 101 is answered as quickly as they'd like so I'm sure that will be welcomed".