Cheshire MP slams police commissioner for planned cuts

Mike Amesbury said taxpayers will ‘pay more and get less’ because of planned cuts to police station helpdesks as well as PCSO numbers.

Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury is unhappy Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) John Dwyer has imposed a 4.4 per cent hike on the Cheshire Police precept.

He also opposes the PCC’s proposal to axe 11 police station helpdesks, including Runcorn, and install a video facility at Northwich station.

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

He 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 plan is to reduce police station helpdesks from 16 to just 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 non-emergency 101 number.

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

"I know my concerns are shared by local councillors."

Cheshire Police & Crime Commissioner John Dwyer

However, Mr Dwyer defended the cuts, saying 70 per cent of respondents to a recent survey backed his plans.

He said: "The budget I set for next year includes 120 more police officers, meaning that Cheshire will have the highest number of officers it has ever had on its current boundaries.

"We’ll also be hiring 63 more frontline support staff for key teams.

"We’ll be putting more staff in the control room to take 101 and 999 calls and there will also be further investment in our force intelligence, serious and organised crime, and major investigations teams.

"These teams work behind the scenes day and night to take down hardened criminals."

He also pointed to an investment of more than £1 million on improving public contact.

He added: "Average 101 call waiting times have already reduced from 27 minutes in August to around six minutes now, and I want to see them come down further.

"As well as wanting more investment, people always tell me to use police resources more efficiently.

"The measures I’ve outlined demonstrate a commitment to investing in the right areas, in order to make our police service more visible and contactable for the people of Cheshire."