Extra government funding has prompted Essex Police to do on about turn on their plans to cull 99 PCSO roles across the county.
At the start of February Essex Police announced it planned to lay off its Police Community Support Officers.
Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council believes PCSOs are fundamental to community policing. That is why for many years now SMPC has committed over £10,000 a year to help pay for a PCSO to work in the village.
It is good to hear that following news that extra money could be made available by the government, Essex Police are considering reversing their decision and are now looking to continue to employ PCSOs for 2025.
According to Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, the next step is to submit the PFCC plan to use the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee funding to the Home Office for approval.
So long as the Home Office accept the plan and provide the additional funding the PFCC say they will then be able to keep PCSOs on the pay roll.
Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council will up date residents on this decision as soon as this information is made public.