PCSOs in Staffordshire are experiencing the “worst working environment” in 17 years on the force, a Biddulph councillor has said.
Around 160 police community support officers across the county are understood to be involved in a ballot over strike action as part of a dispute over working patterns and public safety, which closed on Friday.
It follows the announcement by Staffordshire Police in October last year that it aimed to save £700,000 by making changes to the working hours of its PCSOs.
At a meeting of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council on Wednesday, Coun Jill Salt (Biddulph East) proposed a motion to urge police, fire and crime commissioner Ben Adams to reconsider the decision.
She said: “These changes will effectively halve the number of PCSOs available during the very times communities need them most — evenings and weekends.
“Staffordshire Police may argue that there will be more resources during the daytime and that police officers will help cover evenings. But this fundamentally misunderstands the role PCSOs play.”
More than simply additional patrol staff, Coun Salt argued that the presence of community support officers allowed them to build “trust, relationships and understanding” with residents, businesses, youth groups and faith communities.
She said: “One PCSO told me that this is the worst working environment they had experienced in 17 years of service with Staffordshire Police.
“Another explained that the shift restructure would leave them £260 worse off every month – to put that into context, it’s about half my mortgage contribution. This jeopardises the financial security of the PCSO workforce.”
Coun Salt told the meeting that another officer explained to her that the changes would have a “devastating impact” on their family life, with some PCSOs facing permanent late-night shifts that would affect childcare, relationships and their ability to maintain a work-life balance.
She said: “PCSOs do not only deter crime — they reduce fear. They make vulnerable residents feel safer.
“They create confidence that someone is present, listening, and accessible, and once communities lose that confidence, rebuilding it becomes incredibly difficult.”
Coun Matthew Spooner (Cheadle North East), said he fully supported Coun Salt’s proposal.
He said: “It’s an absolute shame that we could lose these individuals at one of the most important times within our communities. We should do everything we can to support them.
“It’s disgraceful that we’ve got to a point where PCSOs are currently balloting to strike. I hope Ben Adams can get around a table now before any strikes go ahead.
“In any case, they would have my full support because we can’t afford to lose such vital members of our community.”
Coun Jim Garvey (Biddulph North) had concerns about the future of Biddulph’s high street.
He said: “The Biddulph PCSOs in the town centre in the evenings is vital, as is the relationship they have with our community and youth groups in improving and moderating the behaviour in our town centre. I unreservedly support this motion.”
Fellow Biddulph North Coun Andrew Hart described how, a few years ago, a PCSO had intervened when “scammers” were attempting to force an elderly man out of his home.
He said: “An old chap in a rural area in my ward was being crowbarred out of his house and conned.
“He had dementia and a group from Cheshire claiming to be from the local authority was trying to con him out of his home.
“I informed the PCSO, who put pressure on the group and stopped the situation in the nick of time – he had nearly packed his bags.”
He added: “We need a strong PCSO service in Staffordshire, and rural areas rely on it even more than places that are more urbanised.”
The council unanimously supported Coun Salt’s proposal, and planned to invite Mr Adams to its next scrutiny committee meeting.
