THE number of Police Community Support Officers could be cut in Cheshire.

The county's police and crime commissioner, John Dwyer, is considering slashing £1.3m off the PCSO budget and using the cash to fund other police officers.

He says there would be no redundancies and losses would be through 'natural wastage' and that the funds freed up would pay for other officers.

But councillors at Friday's meeting of Cheshire's police and crime panel were concerned after learning a PCSO review is currently being undertaken.

Warrington Borough councillor Kenneth Critchley asked: "Does it imply there will be fewer PCSOs?"

Mr Dwyer said the 122 communities model set up by previous commissioner David Keane is in the plan.

"The chief constable, however, has got a view that he wanted more police officers and so the PCSO review, which is still ongoing but we anticipate will reduce numbers of PCSOs through natural wastage, will result in an increase in the police establishment," said Mr Dwyer.

He added: "I think we're currently running at about 200 PCSOs in the county and the feeling is that we don't need 200. But there'll be no redundancies, it will be natural wastage.

"I think the figure the chief constable raised with me the other day was about 160, but it's about actually moving resources around so that we actually re-invest the savings we make in other parts of the organisation to tackle the issues that we know need to be tackled."

Cllr Critchley told the PCC: "Where I live I'd say the PCSOs are hugely visible, police constables less so, so I definitely support the retention of the PCSOs providing that vital comfort to the community."

Panel chair Evan Morris asked: "That trade off, as it appears to be, between PCSOs and full time police officers, was that made public at any stage during the consultation period of the budget?"

Mr Dwyer replied: "No, this is still a review and until we've got to the end of the review, until we actually get the final figure, it won't be a public discussion.

"But the public at large are asking to see police officers, not PCSOs in particular, although I fully accept and acknowledge the value of PCSOs.

"They're very important to my policing plans for the community of Cheshire and that's why we're committed to maintaining the 122 model which we guarantee a PC and a PCSO for each one of the identified communities."

Cheshire East councillor Paul Findlow said: "I hope there's no fait accompli about the future of PCSOs."

He said there needed to be a proper consultation because it is a major policy issue and should be treated as such.

And fellow Cheshire East member Cllr Laura Jeuda told the commissioner: "I think people are going to be very disappointed and possibly very angry if they do lose any of the PCSOs."

Mr Dwyer said the Cheshire public could rest assured "the policing will be there for them when they need it and I'm keen to ensure that the public will start seeing a lot more police presence on our streets".

The discussion came during the debate on the commissioner's plans to increase the police precept by 4.4 per cent, adding £10 a year to a band D council tax payer's bill.

This was voted through and the commissioner said this would enable the force to recruit an extra 120 officers.

• PCSOs work with police officers and share some, but not all of their powers. Their work includes tackling anti-social behaviour and they can issue fixed-penalty notices.