The St James’s Area of Kemp Town has a new police community support officer (PCSO) pounding the beat.
PCSO Francesca Parsons has joined the force’s best-named officer, PCSO Sam Justice, and together they will be helping tackle antisocial behaviour in the area.
Central Brighton Neighbourhood Policing Inspector David Derrick said: “Along with other crime fighting initiatives around the St James’s Street area, I believe Francesca, working alongside the other St James’s Street PCSO Sam Justice, will help with the concerns of the St James’s Area LAT.
“These concerns include anti-social behaviour and my team are dedicated to serving the community and helping with these issues. The Neighbourhood Policing Teams will also hold regular days of action in and around St James’s Street where all forms of anti-social behaviour will be challenged.
Chris Cooke, Chair of the St James’s Area Local Action Team (LAT) added: “Anti-social behaviour is being treated as the number one priority by the Neighbourhood Policing Team in the St James’s Street area and that it will not be tolerated.”
This is great news – I only hope Fran’s post is sustainable in the face of Government police funding cuts and slew of Sussex police redundancies set to be made next month.
I’ll be fighting them, seeking to raise council tax by a few pence a week to preserve neighbourhood policing – will Labour and Tory members of Sussex Police Authority join me? I hope so – but I fear not.
What they giveth with one hand the take away with the other it seems…