ONE of the County's top policemen has urged community and local councils in Monmouthshire to co-fund additional Community Support Officers. The plea has brought a muted response from most local councils, while others, and individuals, have reacted angrily to the call. Two councillors, who serve on their community councils, contacted The Beacon to say "this is just not on. We already pay, as councils and individuals, for these police services, yet we are being asked to pay again" said one person. And Counc Armand Watts, a member of Monmouthshire County Council and a former Mayor of Chepstow, said he was amazed that the letter had been sent. "I have always given my total support to the police, and also to the concept of Community Officers" he said. "However, I feel it is unfortunate the police are asking Community Councils to pay even more. These councils operate on very limited budgets and should not be asked to hand more cash over for policing their areas". The Beacon understands that, out of the Council Tax they pay each year, each person in the county has to pay £159.94 out of the total amount of £1,010.87 to fund the police.In his letter to Community Councils in the County, Paul Symes, the Divisional Commander for Gwent Police, said "As you will be aware, during the last two years, Gwent Police has invested significantly in developing neighbourhood policing teams within Monmouthshire. "Police Community Support Officers currently perform a very valuable role within these teams and I know their presence and visibility is being appreciated by the communities they serve". He went on to say "I write to bring your attention an exciting opportunity to co-fund additional Police Community Support Officers within Monmouthshire. "At this moment in time, the Monmouthshire area is currently served by twenty one Police Community Support Officers, who perform a key role within our local neighbourhood policing teams". He said that, during the last year, he had been working with Torfaen Borough Council and the Home Office to secure additional Police Community Support Officers for the area. "This involved Torfaen agreeing to contribute to the cost of Police Community Support Officers for their area. I am pleased to say that this work delivered very positive outcomes, in that an additional ten officers were posted to Torfaen" said Mr Symes. "The financial contribution from Torfaen amount to £6K per Support Officer. As a result of negotiations, I was able to secure the remaining £190,000 from the Home Office". He said he had now secured an option for a further six Community Support Officers, providing he could find partners who were able to contribute. This would be £7,385 for 2008/09; £8,575 for 2009.10; and £9,942 for 2010/11, for each Community Support Officer. The officer's letter added: "I know the funding arrangements for Community Councils are not significant, but the potential exists for a number of Community Councils to work jointly together in co-funding one Support Officer for your area".
