A RASPBERRY has been blown in the direction of Chief Constable Peter Fahy after he offered to provide a dedicated police community support officer (PCSO) for Malpas at an extra cost of £11,000.

The Home Office scheme was given short shrift by Malpas parish councillors, even though the actual cost would be £30,000, with the rest made up of Government funding.

Cllr Charles Higgie, speaking at the monthly meeting, said: 'We would like one but we have not got £11,000 spare to contribute towards it.' City and Malpas parish councillor Keith Ebben took a harder line. 'I say we blow a raspberry at them. If there was a referendum in the village, people would give two fingers to it,' he said.

The move comes after Tarporley Parish Council took part in a six-month trial involving PCSO Claire Hulse, who patrolled the village at no cost to the authority.

But the council decided not to take up the offer of paying for a PCSO saying the officer had little impact on crime. However, 10 other PCSOs are funded by other parishes.

Mr Fahy argued PCSOs, who can exercise some police powers such as traffic control, provided an increased presence and accessibility as well as a successful approach to tackling low level crime and anti-social behaviour.

But Cllr Darren Palmer did not like the tone of the Chief Constable's letter: 'What happened to the two police houses they sold? Are we supposed not to have noticed that because I have, so think again! It's a patronising letter. We are not as stupid as they think.'

Cllr Anna Patten was concerned that if the offer was rejected the police might withdraw beat bobby Rob Boulton, who is 'doing a good job'.

County councillor Eveleigh Moore Dutton, a visitor to the meeting, said she felt the reverse might be the case.

'What I fear is if you are funding a community support officer it might be an excuse to remove your police officer,' said the councillor, while accepting PCSOs did 'contribute a lot' to areas including Handbridge in Chester.

Cllr Rose Caine said villagers might be willing to pay for a PCSO out of the parish precept, but only if the police authority refunded the money from the Council Tax.

Members agreed a letter should be sent declining the Chief Constable's offer.