06/10/10…Feared cuts could effect policing in Thame

A THAME police officer has expressed concern that looming cuts in police funding could do away with PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers).

“There are no pressing problems in Thame at the moment,” PC Russell Hounslow told Thame Town Council last night, “and looking at the crime figures for September over the last three years, crime is falling in the town.”

“At the moment we are not quite sure how the cuts will affect policing in Thame, including what the future is for PCSOs. But if they are taken away, that would probably put more pressure on uniformed officers working in Thame.”

PC Hounslow said he generally welcomed the introduction of the Street Pastors who, he explained, will probably patrol the town centre on Friday and Saturday nights (and early mornings) during the winter, and the open spaces where people congegate, in the summer.

“The Street Pastors will be extra pairs of eyes and ears,” he said, “which will help, and hopefully crime will again fall in Thame.”

Following the disbanding of the Thame NAG (Neighbourhood Action Group), which helped set priorities for local policing, PC Hounslow will now be liaising with the town council more and his team are organising more ‘Have your say’ meetings, usually held in the Co-op cafe, where local people can meet officers and discuss any concerns.

In answer to a question from a Cllr Owen Davies, PC Hounslow said that very little crime had taken place at this year’s fun fair, and that trouble with a gang from Aylesbury was able to be averted by use of CCTV cameras and Stewards following them around the town.

PHOTO: Thame PCSO Lucy Thorne talks to market traders in Thame.