Cutting PCSOs would make Hillingdon police less representative
The Metropolitan Police plans to axe all local PCSOs would disproportionately hit BME representation in Hillingdon, Dr Onkar Sahota AM said. New figures from the PCS Union have revealed that 34% of neighbourhood PCSOs in London come from BME backgrounds compared with only around 12% of police officers. With 20% of PCSOs in Hillingdon coming from BME background, Dr Sahota AM said the changes would mean “local police will be less reflective of our local community” given the significantly lower levels of diversity amongst officers other than PCSOs.
During September’s Mayor’s Question Time Boris Johnson was urged to halt the proposals to scrap all of London’s neighbourhood PCSOs until the impact on BME representation is addressed and a full public consultation has been conducted. Despite recent increases in the number of police officers from BME backgrounds there are still a comparatively high proportion of PCSOs from BME backgrounds compared with police officers. Dr Sahota said cutting PCSOs would risk the Met failing on its target to create a force which better reflects the community it serves.
The future of PCSOs is due to be discussed by the Metropolitan Police at its Management Board meeting on 29th September. The cuts could see neighbourhood policing teams in Hillingdon reduced to just a single police officer for each ward, despite having six officers (3 PCSOs, 2 PCs and a sergeant) only 3 years ago. PCSOs have been used to top-up low police officer numbers since the Mayor of London’s restructure of local policing came into effect in 2012.
Dr Onkar Sahota, Labour Assembly Member for Ealing & Hillingdon said:
“We need a police force which reflects the makeup of the communities it serves. Scrapping all of London’s local PCSOs would not only destroy our system of neighbourhood policing it would be a massive step backwards in terms of the representativeness of the police.
“With 20% of PCSOs in Hillingdon coming from BME backgrounds, there’s no doubt this change would mean our local police will be less reflective of our local community.
“Whilst it’s good police officer diversity is slowly improving, the Government’s savage budget cuts are going to have a dramatic impact on the Met. Changes like getting rid of London’s PCSOs would completely alter the shape and makeup of London’s police force. Whilst the Government’s cuts will undoubtedly mean change, it’s vital we have an open and honest conversation with the public about the future of policing in the capital.”
Notes to editors
- Dr Onkar Sahota AM is the Labour Assembly Member for Ealing & Hillingdon
- According to the PCS Union there are currently 1,128 safer neighbourhood PCSOs in the capital of whom 34% are from BME backgrounds. In Hillingdon, 20% of PCSOs are from BME backgrounds. The breakdown of ethnicity provided by the PCS and drawn from Metropolitan Police data is available here.
- Joanne McCartney AM challenged Boris Johnson on the potential cuts to PCSOs at Mayor’s Question Time from 10am on Wednesday 16th September. A livestream of the meeting will be available here.
- On 29th September 2015 the Metropolitan Police Management Board will discuss options including:
- Retain 629 only dedicated ward PCSO posts.
- Remove all Neighbourhood PCSO posts.