Local AM calls for more community-based policing

10.48.46am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 12th Jan 2007

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, has commended the work of local Police Community Support Officers (PCSO's), and would like to see more of them working in communities across the constituency.

The local AM is backing her party's calls for an extra 500 PCSO's for Wales, to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

Ms Williams said: "We would make sure that funding is available for PCSO's, when and where local people and the police want them. In Llandrindod Wells, for example, PCSO's are already improving the quality of life in the community and offering greater public assurance through their visible and accessible uniformed presence. Antisocial behaviour is a serious problem in parts of the constituency, however, and what is needed now is a more comprehensive roll-out of the scheme, especially in more deprived areas such as Ystradgynlais.

"Pride in our communities is at the heart of the Welsh Liberal Democrat approach to politics, and making sure that we have safe, secure communities is a vital part of that. Increasing street policing through extra officers will offer peace of mind and support to local people. The people of Wales support community-based policing - that's why they opposed Labour's proposed police merger. And that's why we opposed it - a move to a single, unwieldy force would have meant less local accountability and less localised policing. And that's why we're proposing more local community policing with more support officers across Wales."