THE man who represents the rank and file of Hampshire Police has criticised a “disgraceful” decision to cut police officer jobs while maintaining PCSO numbers.

Hampshire PCSOs – police community support officers – have been ringfenced since Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes came into office in 2012.

That is despite the force facing huge financial cuts which Hampshire Police Federation chairman John Apter says have reduced officer numbers by almost 1,000 over recent years.

Mr Apter acknowledges the part that PCSOs have to play and stressed their value to the force but believes a better balance needs to be found while “devastating” cuts are being made.

He said: “In these difficult financial times the PCC has made a decision to fully protect PCSO numbers whilst at the same time allowing police officer numbers to be slashed by almost 1,000.

“This decision makes no sense and undermines the contribution to policing from hard working police officers.

“Neighbourhood policing is an important part of what we do, but to fully protect the numbers of PCSOs and allow the numbers of those police officers attending 999 calls to be cut to such levels is a disgrace.”

PCSOs are increasingly becoming the public face of the force, dealing with antisocial behaviour, particularly with young people, and interacting with communities.

But Mr Apter told the Daily Echo that cutting officer numbers has created huge demands and could have a negative effect on the force’s ability to investigate crimes.

He said: “He has got a very powerful position and he needs to make sure that the decisions he is making are the ones that the public want.”

Mr Hayes was elected to his current post after previously holding the position of Crimestoppers chairman for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

He admitted that police officers are being put under higher demand but pointed to financial constraints as a reason for dwindling numbers, and said PCSOs can free up time for officers by dealing with non-criminal work.

He said: “The role of the police constable is becoming much more pressurised than it was five or 10 years ago in terms of the fact that there are fewer of them.

“We expect them to do more than just fight crime – we expect them to look for missing people, to support vulnerable people, and to attend road traffic collisions. Recent research shows that only 20 per cent of police time is dealing with criminal behaviour and 80 per cent is dealing with other things.

“PCSOs deal with some of that non-criminal role, as well as other things.”