Fears grow overvillage PCSO’s

Robertsbridge councillor Sue Prochak has slammed Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne over plans which could leave the village without a police community support officer.

She said: “We have lost our PCSO Tina Grevett who worked for us over the years, getting to know residents and often nipping trouble in the bud. Now she has moved on and we are left without a dedicated PCSO.

“I understand she is not to be replaced, but that other PCSOs would respond when needed. This is not good enough.

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Robertsbridge is a large village. The key role of a PCSO is to get to know the residents, the young people, the elderly and vulnerable. This means spending time in the village.”

This week Cllr Prochak said: “I have just received a letter from Katy Bourne. She states that her office has not received any correspondence from me.”

Cllr Prochak responded to the Police and Crime Commissioner by replying: “You will see from the message below sent on 4 October that you had indeed received my email as the message below confirms. I would appreciate an explanation for this.”

She went on to say: “More of a disappointment is that Katy Bourne has not referred to her promise to RDC councillors to protect the PCSO budget, but is to design a new “Target Operating Model”. As a local authority councillor I know what this usually means is reducing costs and therefore employees. I am sure the public understand why targeting resources can improve efficiency, however, a PCSO role is very different and involves working in the community.”