A GROUP of Police Community Support Officers from Northwich are holding an open seminar next week to educate the public on their role in the community.

The PCSOs, based on various patches across the area, say they are fed up of some people’s perceptions of them, and want to put the record straight.

Angela Richardson, PCSO for Rudheath, believes the event could be a real eye-opener. She said: “We want to let people know what our role in the community is, that’s the reason for doing it.”

The event takes place on Wednesday, December 12 at Bethel Church at Hargreaves Road, Rudheath from 6.30pm. Other officers definitely in attendance will be Karen Nixon and Diana Wiggins, PCSOs for Weaverham and Barnton respectively.

With a number of negative stories printed in the national press about PCSOs – most notably the death of 10-year-old Jordan Lyon in Wigan earlier this year – Insp Pete Minghella, head of policing in Northwich, wants people in the town to realise how “invaluable” they are.

Insp Minghella, of Northwich Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said: “I can honestly say, hand on heart, that without them we wouldn’t have achieved as much as we have done this year. The impact the PCSOs are having, in visiting and speaking to people and reassuring the public, is invaluable. It will be interesting for people to go along and meet them and see what and how much they actually do.”