Police force plans to axe community officers

All police community support officers in one force were told by their chief constable yesterday that they may lose their jobs next year due to "a lack of clarity" on funding.

Lancashire Constabulary said it had decided to start formal talks with trade unions over the future of its 427 PCSOs. The force needs to save £50m over four years in the wake of the spending review.

It said that it could not rely on funding being continually provided by central and local government and that the force could not afford to find the £220,000 per week needed.

Theresa May, the Home Secretary, is expected to decide within the next six weeks whether funding for the country's 16,000 PCSOs will continue to be provided directly from the Home Office.

Lancashire's Chief Constable, Steve Finnigan said: "This is a hugely regrettable position for us as we place a great deal of importance on the role our PCSOs play.

"This is not a decision we have taken lightly but reflects the seriousness of the financial position surrounding the funding of PCSOs and the current lack of clarity."