Liz calls for more Police Community Support Officers

10.56.53pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 9th Jul 2007

Liz calls for more Police Community Support Officers

Following an evening on patrol with Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) in Bishop's Waltham, Liz Leffman, prospective Lib Dem MP for Meon Valley, is calling for more PCSOs in the area.

"I was privileged to meet the new PCSOs on their first day at Meon Valley police station, and I asked then if it would be possible to go out on patrol with one of them to observe how they are working in our community" said Liz.

Having a police presence on the street has boosted local people's confidence in the ability of the police to manage low level vandalism and rowdy behaviour. The PCSOs have made it their business to get to know young people in particular, all over the Meon Valley area.

PCSOs can also help in an emergency, as Liz discovered on her evening patrol. On hearing from a passing motorist that a young woman had collapsed in the street, PCSO Sarah McCullough ran to the scene and was there to support the young woman and comfort her friends until the First Responders and ambulance arrived.

"I was very impressed with the way in which the whole incident was handled," says Liz. "Having a police presence on the street that evening made a real difference."

There are currently nine PCSOs in the Meon Valley police area. The original plan was for eleven to be recruited, but the number was cut back due to government cuts in the police budget. The cuts have affected the number of PCSOs across Hampshire.

"Now that I have seen the PCSOs in action I am more determined than ever that we should have more of them helping to keep our neighbourhoods safer." says Liz.

If you would like to support Liz's call for more Police Community Support Officers for Hampshire, you can sign her petition on the Meon Valley Lib Dem website: www.meonvalleylibdems.org.uk