Let us fill the gap
Like other recent correspondents in your letter column I am concerned about the loss of 17 Police Community Support Officers in north Norfolk.
It is also the case that, even at this late stage, the Conservative police and crime commissioner for Norfolk can reduce the cut to community policing by funding more police beat officers in north Norfolk.
This is because the government in late December gave police and crime commissioners greater flexibility over using council tax to maintain frontline police services.
I hope this will happen but if it does not then North Norfolk District Council will have to consider if they can plug the funding gap.
Under my proposal the five police beat officers to be funded by the district council would be stationed at existing police stations but would serve towns and villages across north Norfolk.
The district council has the financial reserves to do this.
It is a question of how much priority the council wants to give to providing a viable community police service for residents if the Norfolk police and crime commissioner will not do so.
SARAH BUTIKOFER
Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group
North Norfolk District Council
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