Thames Valley has seen a cut of 171 Police Community Support Officers since 2015

As cuts across the board make life worse for lots of people, we are sad to report that the number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) in Thames Valley has been cut by 171. In March 2014, we had 459 PCSOs serving us in Thames Valley. By September 2023 we had only 288 full-time equivalent PCSOs. While not making big headlines, Liberal Democrat research shows that in the UK as a whole, we have lost 4,068 PCSOs since 2015, leading to more crimes going unsolved and victims going without justice.

In our view, what we actually need is more police officers visible on the streets, building relationships—and trust—with local people. People need to feel safe in their own homes. One of our priorities as a party is a return to proper community policing.