PCSOs - is Labour really tough on crime?

12.30.29am GMT Tue 27th Feb 2007

The Labour Government has shocked local residents after they announced massive cuts in Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) here in Bristol.

This was just weeks after Labour Home Secretary John Reid met south Bristol local residents who told him we need more police!

Liberal Democrats are determined to resist the cuts of up to 44 Community Support Officers here in Bristol. The cuts have also been condemned by senior police officers.

Cllr Jackie Norman said "Bristol Liberal Democrats will keep on fighting to get back our promised PCSOs."

"It's disgraceful that Labour Councillors failed to support a statement we brought to Council condemning the cuts. They have betrayed local residents."

Phil James, Bristol East Liberal Democrats' Parliamentary Spokesman agreed "Labour continue to throw wads of our money at ID Card schemes instead of doing what the Lib Dems have put forward - invest in front line officers keeping an eye on our streets."

"We will all end up having to carry ID Cards in the street and paying for this threat to our civil liberties. It suits this Labour government's purpose but does nothing to deter criminals. Identifying someone caught committing crime is rarely a problem; catching them is, and having fewer PCSOs on the streets will do nothing to deter criminal activity or detect it when it happens."