New Police Community Support Officers a real asset, says Hughes

10.48.02pm GMT Tue 20th Mar 2007

Liz Leffman welcomes new Police Community Support Officers

On March 19th, Liberal Democrat Party President Simon Hughes paid a flying visit to Meon Valley Police Station, Bishop's Waltham. Together with Meon Valley's Prospective Lib Dem MP, Liz Leffman, he greeted five Police Community Support Officers, on their first day in their new job.

Meon Valley was originally to have had fourteen PCSOs to support the work of the local constabulary, but thanks to cuts in government funding, they have been reduced to nine.

Nevertheless, Inspector Shaun Moore, Sector Inspector for Meon Valley, told Simon Hughes and Liz Leffman that he was very pleased to have the nine officers joining his team.

"Police Community Support Officers provide a much-needed presence on our streets, and will be a real asset to local policing" said Simon Hughes.

Simon Hughes and Liz Leffman also inspected the Bishop's Waltham CCTV system, which was installed when the Liberal Democrats were responsible for the running of Winchester City Council. CCTV has played an important part in reducing anti-social behaviour and vandalism in the town. But the system is now badly in need of repair. The Conservative run council has been dragging its heels over maintenance, and one of the cameras has not been working for several weeks.

"I will be contacting Winchester City Council to ask why there has been a delay in repairing the system, and to ask that it receives urgent attention" said Liz Leffman

Notes to Editors

· The new constituency of Meon Valley includes the following areas:

From East Hampshire, Clanfield and Finchdean, Horndean and Rowlands Castle

From Havant, Cowplain, Hart Plain and Waterloo

From Winchester, Bishops Waltham, Boarhunt and Southwick, Cheriton and Bishops Sutton, Denmead, Droxford, Soberton and Hambledon, Owslebury and Curdridge, Shedfield, Swanmore and Newtown, Upper Meon Valley, Whiteley and Wickham

· The new seat has a notional Conservative majority of just under 1,990, based on the results of the 2005 elections.