Chief constable defends West Mercia plan for no PCSOs after 20:00
"Financial challenges" have forced the need for a consultation on police community support officers (PCSOs) finishing shifts by 20:00, a new police chief has admitted. Chief Constable Richard Cooper said West Mercia Police would be saving money on extra payment officers get when they work unsociable hours. Following a backlash over the plan by councillors in Shropshire last month, Mr Cooper stressed that if the consultation pans out, the same amount of PCSOs would still be working the same amount of hours."Its not a case of do we need to save money, it's how do we save the money?," he told BBC Hereford & Worcester.
"The cost of running the organisation is now stripping the funding available to us," he said, speaking on the mid-morning Hot Seat spot, on Thursday."We've had to make some really difficult considerations. Our police staff and officers receive an unsociable hours payment for working into the evening and we need to save money."
Anti-social behaviour issues
As chief constable Mr Cooper - who was appointed in March after working in the role temporarily since last August - is responsible for the delivery of operational policing across Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire. A caller on the programme's phone-in had asked about whether the PCSOs are needed later than 20:00. In response, Mr Cooper said many officers deal with anti-social behaviour issues, which generally "diminishes rapidly" by that time. "The data supports the fact the peak [for anti-social behaviour] is between 5 and 6. It starts dropping thereafter and stops dramatically after 8 o'clock," he explained.
Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
21 minutes ago
- BBC News
Rapist jailed for nine years for Shrewsbury attack
An "evil" man who raped a woman in a dark alleyway has been sentenced to nine years in Harvey, 25, of Clive Barracks in Tern Hill, Shropshire, had previously admitted carrying out the attack in the early hours of 6 July in the Mardol area of Shrewsbury.A statement from the victim, read out at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, said she had suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and anxiety since the attack, and rarely went out with friends said she had been motivated to see the trial through to the end to prevent Harvey attacking anyone else, but as a result had been "forced to relive the worst moment of my life repeatedly". The court heard the incident, in which she was raped twice and sexually assaulted, had lasted about 20 Con Sam Jones said he had "committed a purely evil crime".In passing his sentence, Judge Richard McConaghy told Harvey: "You were drunk and had clearly been looking for sex."She was not interested in you, but you did not care."After the attack, the victim called the police, and the judge said the call had been "harrowing to listen to".Despite making full admissions to officers when he was arrested, Harvey chose to go to trial and contest the Con Jones said as a result of changing his story, he had subjected "his victim and her loved ones to sit through a trial and relive that awful night".The victim's statement, read by prosecutor Caroline Harris, said: "This man has no regard for women."He was found guilty in February by a jury following a nine-day sentencing hearing was not told what Harvey's job at the barracks had been, but the judge said he was "an educated man with a degree" and a "respectable career"."You had the capacity to make something of your life," the judge told sentenced Harvey to nine years for each of the charges of rape, to run concurrently, and seven years for the sexual assault, also to run judge said he must also serve three years on extended licence once his sentence was complete, be placed on the sex offenders register for life and must not contact victim directly or indirectly. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Man arrested after women and girls approached in Dewsbury
A man has been arrested following reports that a number of women and girls had been approached by a person who had caused them employee in a town centre store in Dewsbury contacted officers on Tuesday and also posted about the incident on social media, a West Yorkshire Police spokesperson a result, a 24-year-old man was arrested in the early hours of Thursday and remained in said that three further potential victims had also been identified and spoken to by officers, and high visibility patrols would be increased in the town centre over the coming days to offer reassurance to the public. Dewsbury's neighbourhood policing team was aware of comments on social media from other females who said they had been approached by a man in the town centre, the force spokesperson said. 'Concerning circumstances' Insp Liz Lockwood said officers were working to ensure that all victims were appropriately supported, adding that a "comprehensive investigation" would be carried out."We will be increasing high visibility patrols in the town centre today and over the coming days to offer reassurance to the public, visit stores and reassure business owners and staff and to collate details of any further victims," she said."If anyone else has been approached by a man in concerning circumstances that has caused them to feel harassed, alarmed or distressed, then I would urge them to come forward. "We are committed to protecting women and girls from violence and the fear of violence." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Influencers force major change in colourful Notting Hill
Notting Hill residents are painting their pastel-coloured houses black to deter Instagram influencers and tourists who frequently pose for photos outside their homes. There have been complaints of people climbing on railings, attempting to enter homes, and even asking residents to step aside for photos. Residents report issues such as difficulty renting homes due to constant crowds, stolen items, and being unable to walk down the street. A campaign has been launched to encourage other residents to paint their houses black, citing the bright colours as a 'major draw' for social media photos. Local authorities are urging visitors to respect residents and their private homes, with increased street enforcement to address antisocial behaviour.
