Councillors can't cough up cop cash (From Western Telegraph)

Councillors can't cough up cop cash

6:20pm Monday 17th September 2007 in News

Proposals for an extra PCSO in St Davids have been thrown out by councillors who say residents already pay enough for policing.

The city council has been asked for a contribution towards funding a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), which could be shared with Fishguard, but many councillors felt the city would not benefit from the joint scheme.

At last week's meeting, Cllr John George, said: "I would not like to see a joint scheme with Fishguard, they would just take it from us like the policing.

"We only have one police officer here at present, but we are paying for three in this community."

He added: "Our officer covers an area from St Davids to Eglwyswrw, and our PCSO covers from here to Crymych.I propose that we do not go along with this, rather than paying £8,000 for what the police should be doing anyway."

Other councillors stated they were already supporting the police through taxes, and were reluctant to offer any more funding.

Cllr Chris Taylor said: "We pay for three officers in this community. Why are we having to subsidise the police for what they should be doing anyway?"

Cllr Sian Williams added: "It's ridiculous. I do not see why we should have to pay for services we are already paying for through taxes."

The council recently contributed towards a hand held speed gun which was to be shared between the two towns, but are disappointed it has not been used in their area very often.

Mayor Glenys James urged people to attend the neighbourhood policing forum to express their views to local officers.

She said: "At the last forum we heard no problems had been reported in St Davids during August.

"We should encourage people to come along to these meetings and report things to the police."