The Labour Group on Plymouth City Council has reacted angrily at Conservative plans to take Police Community Support Officers off Plymouth's streets, and may see them scrapped altogether. The Tories' Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling MP has said that a government led by David Cameron would no longer demand that a fixed amount of money is spent on PCSOs.

Councillor Mary Aspinall, Labour Group Secretary said "This is further proof of how out of touch David Cameron is with what really happens on our streets. I know the PCSOs in my area of Sutton and Mount Gould, and across Plymouth, are hardworking, respected figures who do a fantastic job supporting their Police Officer colleagues, who now have more time to tackle more serious incidents. To even mention 'doing away with PCSOs' as the Tories are considering is madness, and shows how little they value the hard work and long hours PCSOs put in on behalf of the community".

The recent 'Engaging Communities in Fighting Crime' report, the result of an in-depth, eight-month study headed by Louise Casey, former head of the Government's Respect Task Force found that 54% of the public think PCSOs, introduced by the Labour Government, are doing a good or excellent job, and 92% of the public want to see them given additional powers to detain suspects.

Councillor Aspinall said "The news that nationally Conservatives would look at scrapping Plymouth's popular PCSOs, many of whom are now familiar faces and have built up excellent relationships with local people is upsetting.

"We need Plymouth Tory Leader Vivien Pengelly to join Labour in condemning these plans now, otherwise voters will know she stands fully behind David Cameron in wanting to deprive Plymothians of a much valued community resource".

"As a member of the Police Authority, Mrs Pengelly knows full well that ring fencing of PCSO budgets has kept more money on the front line of policing -out on the streets - rather than in the bureaucracy at police stations.