Use PCSOs wisely

WHEN the Police Community Support Officer programme was first announced, my understanding was that PCSOs would be employed to assist our somewhat diminished local police force with neighbourhood policing. We now have eight PCSOs working St Neots, with mor

WHEN the Police Community Support Officer programme was first announced, my understanding was that PCSOs would be employed to assist our somewhat diminished local police force with neighbourhood policing. We now have eight PCSOs working St Neots, with more promised by the district council in this New Year.

Their role seems only to patrol the town centre car parks, checking vehicle tax disks, out-of-time parking tickets and issuing penalty notices whenever and wherever possible with absolutely zero tolerance.

Is it really necessary to book seven cars parked on the south side of the Market Square at 9.45pm on a Sunday night? Or is this just a revenue-raising exercise by the district council keen to exploit the hapless motorist and drive locals out of town?

Tales of encounters abound amongst the chattering classes, with miscreants being booked while unloading stationery outside their workplace, or for having one wheel over the white line and committing the new offence of not "parking within the designated space".

Do the police not realise the damage these over-zealous council employees are doing to the way the force is perceived by the public, or do they care? It is time the district council woke up to reality and understood that they exist to serve the community, not to alienate it.

TERRY LOVETT

Barford Rd

Eynesbury