MS welcomes progress towards delivering key PCSO election pledge

Wrexham’s Member of the Senedd, Lesley Griffiths, has welcomed news that most of the extra 100 PCSOs promised by the Welsh Labour Government at the Senedd election last year are already in place.

The latest update from the Welsh Government has stated the majority of the 100 PCSOs were in place by the end of the 2021-22 financial year, in April.

In August 2021, the Welsh Government announced an extra £3.7m of funding for an additional 100 PCSOs across the country, bringing the overall budget to more than £22m.

The additional 100 PCSOs brings the total funded by the Welsh Government to 600, with 121 based in North Wales.

The Welsh Labour Government has funded an extra 500 PCSOs in Wales for over a decade, demonstrating its commitment to helping tackle crime and supporting safe and strong communities. This original decision was made to help mitigate the impact of austerity on policing budgets and has been maintained ever since.

Welcoming the update, Lesley Griffiths MS said: “Increasing the number of Police Community Support Officers across Wales was a key manifesto commitment so it is pleasing to hear the majority of the extra PCSOs are now in post.

“Having officers on the ground who know their communities is vitally important.  The addition of five new PCSOs to the local neighbourhood team in Wrexham is helping increase the visible police presence, providing greater reassurance to the general public and keeping our communities safe.”