London's Police Community Support Officers should stay

As reports suggest that the Metropolitan Police is considering scrapping 1000 Police Community Support Officers working in London's neighbourhoods, Caroline Pidgeon has written to the Met's Commissioner expressing strong support for PCSOs:

I am writing to urge you to maintain the current structure and ensure we have PCSOs in every ward in London, working hard in their area. PCSOs are at the heart of the Met’s neighbourhood policing alongside Police Constables. PCSOs are your eyes and ears on the ground and are far more representative of London’s diverse communities. Their ability to connect with young people, provide reassurance and to gather on the ground intelligence is crucial if we are to increase confidence in the Met Police and provide reassurance for all our communities. I believe that getting rid of PCSOs would be a backwards step and would destroy safer neighbourhood teams and policing.

Read Caroline's full letter here.

And you can read more about the issue at the BBC.