Neighbourhood Watch stalwart, Peter Thomas attended a meeting of Barrow Borough Council last night and asked councillors to back a campaign to protect community policing in Barrow against any potential future cuts.
Mr Thomas, a champion of Fife Street Neighbourhood Watch and the Bringing Communities Together schemes in Barrow, Dalton and Ulverston, praised the “excellent community policing teams” for reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, but spoke of his fears of future cuts.
He said: “I’m worried that with all the cuts we could lose our excellent community policing teams, especially PCSOs who do an excellent job. We have achieved a lot over the years in our town.
“I would hate to think what the town and area would be like if there were cuts.”
Councillor Brendan Sweeney asked his fellow councillors to back a motion acknowledging the “vital” work of community policing in the reduction of crime and anti-social behaviour in the borough over the last decade, that the council would give its “full support to campaigns for well-resourced community policing in Barrow”.
Councillors gave the motion unanimous backing.
Leader of Barrow Borough Council, Councillor Dave Pidduck, said community police teams were an important part of the community and the council would bat for them.
Councillor Dave Roberts said the council must stick by the community officers and said people would be up in arms against any cuts to community policing.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here