Sandbach councillor condemns decision to make 60 PCSOs across Cheshire redundant
By Deborah Bowyer 8th Jan 2026
By Deborah Bowyer 8th Jan 2026
A Sandbach councillor has condemned the Chief Constable's decision to press ahead with proposals to reduce the number of PCSO posts from 87 to 27 across the county.
Councillor Nicola Cook says it is "with great disappointment" that Cheshire Police have confirmed they are going ahead with the plan.
And Cllr Cook, who represents the Elworth ward of Sandbach on Cheshire East Council, alleges there has been an erosion of community policing in Elworth and the wider Sandbach area.
She said: "Firstly can I thank all of the staff connected to these roles, all of my thanks for all they have done over the years.
"In many areas, they have been our eyes and ears, and it is my belief that our communities we will be worse off without them.
"Over the last 18 months there has been a complete erosion of community policing in Elworth and the wider Sandbach area.
Up until 2024, there were three PCSOs and three Police Officers for Sandbach, Wheelock, Brereton, and Elworth. Over the last 12 months, two PCSOs have left and have not been replaced.
"I was given an assurance that they would be replaced by police officers. This has not happened. This has had a significant impact on Elworth.
"Many residents are rightly concerned about speeding cars, inconsiderate parking and anti-social behaviour. PCSOs have had a real focus on these areas, and the loss of two PCSOs means that this work is not taking place in Elworth.
"It has been confirmed that we may loose our last remaining PCSO from Sandbach with no guarantee that we will get a police officer instead."
She added: "I am also very concerned about the stress this is causing on the police officers covering Sandbach. In Elworth, we have had four different community police officers in two years.
"This does not enable these hard working officers to get to know their community. I speak regularly to community police officers, and it would also appear that they frequently have to go on the 999 response teams when they are short staffed.
"It took me eight weeks to meet the new Elworth police officer, as they kept cancelling the meeting because they had to help with the response team. They left this role after only a few months.
"It is my view that community policing in Elworth is under significant stress,and I am very concerned about the impact this will have on residents."
Cllr Cook, who has asked for a meeting with Cheshire Police to raise her concerns, added: "I will of course do all I can to ensure that if the one remaining PCSO is made redundant then they will be replaced by a uniformed officer."
Cllr Cook's comments come as the county's police and crime panel, which scrutinises the work of the police commissioner's office, calls an extraordinary meeting taking place tomorrow (Friday, 9 January).
The only item on the agenda is to seek 'urgent clarification' from police and crime commissioner Dan Price on the steps he is taking to safeguard the roles and numbers of police community support officers (PCSO) across Cheshire.
Mr Price made it clear just before Christmas he was 'disappointed' with Chief Constable Mark Roberts' decision to press ahead with proposals to reduce the number of PCSO posts from 87 to 27 across the county.
The extraordinary meeting of Cheshire's police and crime panel takes place at Crewe Municipal Buildings at 10 am tomorrow (Friday).
Sandbach Nub News has asked Cheshire Police to comment on Cllr Cook's allegations.
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