A REVIEW into the role of on-the-beat PCSOs in Barnsley’s communities could result in numbers being slashed as part of another proposed shake-up to the local policing model, the Chronicle can reveal.
South Yorkshire Police currently has 217 PCSOs at its disposal but the review, which will take into account the thoughts of serving officers and bosses, could see budgets realigned to reduce numbers and instead pour resources into funding PCs and sergeants.
According to a source, one option is to cut PCSO numbers to 127 - almost halving the current amount - which will see them working Monday to Friday, from 8am to 4pm, in favour of recruiting 60 PCs and 15 sergeants.
But fears have been expressed this week that the move will destabilise the existing structure, notably after 4pm and at weekends, as currently PCSOs work in shifts covering 8am until 10pm, including Saturdays and Sundays.
Barnsley’s 42 PCSOs, who have been labelled as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the communities they serve, helped to make the town the safest place in South Yorkshire last year.
Stephanie Peacock, MP for Barnsley East, told the Chronicle: “PCSOs who contacted us have raised concerns that neighbourhood policing will be hit by these changes, not least the shift to working hours of 8am to 4pm. They’ve rightly suggested antisocial behaviour doesn’t stop at 4pm on a Friday.
“They’re concerned there will be less opportunity to work with schools and children, less visibility on the streets, less time to work with families and the communities they know and who know them.
“Their current shifts are from 8am to 10pm so they currently cover a lot of the after-school and weekend issues so their obvious concern is that neighbourhood policing in Barnsley will suffer, and the consultation seems to have gone unnoticed.
“I look forward to further discussions with South Yorkshire Police over their consultation on the future of local PCSOs, and sincerely hope the presence and impact of police on our streets will not be reduced.
“Our hardworking PCSOs are a vital part of neighbourhood policing, providing the eyes and ears on our streets and building relationships with local communities that leads to vital intelligence gathering.
“I will be seeking further assurances from South Yorkshire Police that any reduction in their number is not a forced cost-cutting measure at the expense of the PCSOs themselves or the communities they are vital to keeping secure.”
South Yorkshire Police axed its former Safer Neighbourhood Team structure in a bid to slash £8.1m from their budget in 2016 - a widely criticised decision which saw bobbies being taken out of the communities they knew and moved to Wombwell.
But a U-turn was performed following the backlash and four new hubs - in Barnsley town centre, Goldthorpe, Kendray and Royston - began operating a year later, with last year seeing the reopening of Cudworth and Penistone stations.
Before Barnsley became the pilot town for the scheme, 42 PCSOs and two inspectors were in post but sergeants and PCs were not used.
It now consists of two inspectors; six sergeants; 25 PCs; 42 PCSOs; one licensing officer; one hate crime officer; one ‘designing out crime’ officer and one partnership analyst - an additional 35 members of staff.
Assistant Chief Constable David Hartley said: “If any changes are made that result in a reduction of PCSOs in our neighbourhood teams, we will invest in additional neighbourhood officers that will be required to work evenings and weekends to address issues around proactive enforcement opportunities, provide a wider depth of problem solving capabilities and to reassure the public in their local communities.
“Our PCSOs have been a consistent key element of our neighbourhood policing teams. However, since our re-investment it is right we build a service that is modern, fit-for-purpose and based upon clear roles and responsibilities, which together is capable of delivering an outstanding service to our communities.( “Options for the future design of the service have been created, taking in to account feedback from PCSOs, wider colleagues and our stakeholders, and following the ongoing consultation, a decision will be made in the coming weeks on the role that PCSOs should play within our neighbourhoods.( “No part of this review is based on securing savings and there are no plans to make any PCSOs redundant. Its focus is on delivering a refreshed role and purpose, a capacity fit for that role and a broader service offer from our neighbourhood policing teams, which is capable of achieving outstanding service to our communities.”
