Question
West Mercia police have changed the hours of police community support officers, introducing an 8 pm finish in order to save money. Unsurprisingly, that has led to an increase in antisocial behaviour in my constituency after 8 pm. The police are very thin on the ground: Ellesmere’s safer neighbourhood team consists of one police officer—who I do not think works 24/7—and just two PCSOs. Our officers and PCSOs do a fantastic job, but they are far too thinly spread. Will the Minister meet me so that she can understand the challenges facing rural policing and the resources that are required in places such as Shropshire?
Answer
We are delivering more neighbourhood police to our communities, and we are encouraging the police to use data as much as they can to determine where they go, which means that, as often as possible, they go to the areas where crime is occurring. The purpose of our police reforms is to answer some of the challenges that the hon. Lady has raised. At present we have 43 forces who are having to look up towards serious and organised crime, international and national fraud and online crime, and having to look down towards their local communities, and they are doing neither very well at the moment.
Verdict: RED (15/100)
The reply gives only general comments on the challenges facing policing and on neighbourhood policing reforms, which loosely touches the question. It does not say whether the Minister will meet the MP, and it does not address rural resourcing, Shropshire, or PCSO hours in Ellesmere. The MP would most likely need to submit a follow-up asking for these specifics.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Minister meet the MP to discuss the challenges facing rural policing and the resources required in rural areas such as Shropshire, including the reduced PCSO hours in Ellesmere. | Partially Addressed | Generic | The reply speaks to the general challenges of policing and to neighbourhood policing reforms, which loosely touches the 'challenges' part of the item. It never says whether the Minister will meet the MP, and it does not mention rural resourcing, Shropshire, or PCSO hours in Ellesmere. |