Helpdesks off as cost of policing rises – MP

CHESHIRE taxpayers will ‘pay more and get less’ because of planned cuts to police station helpdesks as well as PCSO numbers, an MP says.

Mike Amesbury is unhappy Tory police and crime commissioner (PCC) John Dwyer has imposed a 4.4% hike on the Cheshire Constabulary precept.

He also opposes the PCC’s proposal to axe 11 police station helpdesks, including Runcorn.

And he is against Mr Dwyer’s intention to cut PCSO numbers across the county by almost 40.

The Weaver Vale Labour MP said: “The PCC supports all these cuts at the same time as asking each household for an extra £10 per year on the police precept. It’s an audacious move. You pay more and get less!

“The PCC has already shown he has the wrong priorities after giving his new deputy a 33% pay rise just five months into the job.”

“The plan is to reduce police station helpdesks from 16 to five, putting staff at risk of redundancy. I understand the thinking is to then boost personnel in the force control room to improve call waiting times on the nonemergency 101 number.

“Enhancing 101 is something I support but not at the expense of losing face-to-face contact at local police stations such as Runcorn.

“Some victims... for example, those who have suffered domestic abuse, need that one-to-one human contact and not everyone is online.”

● Council tax and further charges rise: p8