PCSOs shock

programme of expansion is to be halted.

It has been suggested that the Home Office's reduction in specific funding for PCSOs in Sussex provides another pot of money for use elsewhere in the Force. However, the reality is that with the grant reduced by 1.829m and the annual formula grant for policing in Sussex at the minimum, there is little other money available and the Force will consequently close its programme of PCSO recruitment at 354 in 2007, rather than 525 as had previously been agreed with the Government.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the APA (Association of Police Authorities) asked for the final tranche of PCSO money - 105 million - to be available to be used more flexibly, but now only 35 million is being released, with just 15 million being distributed to more than 40 provincial forces, the remainder going to the Metropolitan Police. The money is coming in the form of a one-off payment and will not be available to invest in anything with a recurring expenditure, unless an authority is prepared to take the risk of attracting further funding in the future.

However, combined with the Home Office's announcement of a 3.6% core funding increase in 2007-08 and a warning from local government minister, Phil Woolas, that he will not hesitate to cap 'excessive' hikes in council tax next year '“ believed to be anything more than 5% - the Authority claims that with funding at low levels and likely to fall further, the outlook for the next few years is bleak.

Chairman Peter Jones said: "The outlook for the year ahead is already challenging, but it is 2008 onwards that will prove very difficult for us and we are seriously concerned. If, as we expect, existing funding levels are cut in the medium term, it will be a struggle to meet cost increases essential to maintain current services, let alone invest in other crucial areas such as major crime, road policing and counter terrorism, which we are charged by Government to develop following the collapse of its ill-fated force merger proposals.

"Sussex is one of the lowest funded forces in the country and while our grant funding continues to be shaved to the bone, the challenge of maintaining the level and quality of the policing that Sussex people demand and deserve becomes increasingly harder.

"We are determined to maintain the excellent progress we have made in establishing and delivering neighbourhood policing, as demanded by this Government, but over the next three years we are going to have to make significant changes to how the Force is run. Planning for this is not helped by the withdrawal of funding for PCSOs that had already been promised or by the suggestion that the money is now available for use in other areas at ACPO and the APA's request.

"People have indicated to us that they would be prepared to pay more council tax for their policing, but we really don't want to do that. We have delivered efficiency upon efficiency '“ nearly 20 million pounds' worth this year alone '“ and it is high time that Sussex's position as a poor relation in policing terms was addressed by Government and the 6 million plus gap between us and the average shire force closed."