COUNCILLORS are worried community support officers on the beat are not pulling their weight.
Every year residents in Frodsham and Helsby pay £12,000 towards keeping their PCSOs patrolling the streets, which is supported by money from the Police Authority and CWaC.
But now, after accusations that the officers are only ‘policing the schools’ and ‘not spending enough time on the streets’, councillors are considering if they should stop footing the bill.
The Mayor of Frodsham Andrew Dawson has said the system calls for greater clarity into where residents money is being spent.
He said: “We have got Kay and she is wonderful. I would say 99% of the community are very grateful that we have Kay.
“She does a fantastic job and I believe we need a lot more people like Kay. But the question of fairness and unfairness in relation to funding continues to be an issue.”
Recently councillors Stuart Hulse, Terry O’Neil and Digger Digby, of Helsby Parish Council, slated their PCSO James Tapley for ‘not spending enough time in the village’ and ‘spending too much time at the high school’.
Cllr Digger Digby said: “I have been working in the village and have seen him only once going after a stray cat. Some residents have never even seen him.”
