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A question of numbers

Morley Observer/Advertiser 20/2/05 At the meeting of the Police Community Forum held at Morley Town Hall on March 3, the police categorically stated that Morley Town Council had funded only two Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). When I questioned the police officer who was giving the presentation about this inaccuracy, to my amazement my colleague, Coun Robert Finnegan, agreed with the police that Morley Town Council was funding two PCSOs. Coun Finnegan’s comments at the Police Forum are in stark contrast to the statements made in the Elmfield Independent newsletter, which was edited by Independent campaign co-ordinator Terry Grayshon and published by Coun Finnigan in the autumn on 2003, which states: “Independent-led Morley Town Council agreed to finance four Police Community Support Officers in August, providing a patrolling service on Morley streets.” However, in Morley Town Council’s annual report for the year April 1, 2002 – March 31, 2003, it clearly states: “Agreen funding for four Police Community Support Officers.” The annual report for April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004, says: “Jointly-funded four Police Community Support Officers to work exclusively in the Town Council area, in agreement with West Yorkshire Police, affective from January 1, 2004, for a period of three years.” The question to ask it: If Morley Town Council paid £32,000 per annum for the qualified town centre police officer, Pc Neil Ramsden to patrol the streets, why are we now paying £65,000 per annum for two PCSOs? I find it hard to believe that two PCSOs are costing us more than if we employed two PC Ramsdens, as PCSOs are supposed to be 50 percent cheaper than qualified police officers. They say what can’t speak can’t lie, so the maxim is: The truth is too precious a commodity to waste on such fools who wish to hear it! Coun Albert Slingsby In Elmfield Morley Town Council