Essex Police is set to make every one of its 99 police community support officers (PCSOs) redundant due to a huge funding shortfall.

Roger Hirst, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, has said he will have to make 99 PCSOs and up to 60 civilian staff redundant due to a funding shortfall of £5.3 million after savings.

Mr Hirst did warn that Essex Police's ability to fight crime will be harmed by the cuts and blamed the cuts on Government funding constraints, which he described as "perverse" given the Government manifest commitment to 13,000 extra individuals for neighbourhood policing.

The government announced last month that it was making new funding of £100 million available to kickstart the recruitment of 13,000 additional neighbourhood officers, community support officers, and special constables as part of a £1 billion boost to wider action to restore neighbourhood policing.

Mr Hirst said: "We have made the point this directly cuts across the government commitment to safer streets, one of their big missions.

"And they are talking about wanting to see 13,000 more people in neighbourhood policing. But, the funding they are giving us means we will be downsizing neighbourhood policing.

"It's perverse, and I struggle to believe this is what the government wants. But, it is sadly the consequence of their actions."

The cuts to police funding come even with an average increase of almost £14 in council tax for a band D property—which is set to rise from £246.42 to £260.37.

However, it still leaves a gap of more than £12 million, which has been reduced to £5.3 million through cuts.

Mr Hirst said: "The PCSOs are the eyes and ears. They offer reassurance. They are a lot of the local intelligence. They do a valuable job.

"But in the end, police constables have more powers, and therefore, it is important we retain our officer cohort, and if we are left with a £12.5 million shortfall, somewhere has to give."

The cut reverses year-on-year investment, which Mr Hirst said has enabled significant growth in Essex Police and meant that by the end of March 2023, the force had an officer establishment of more than 3,755 police officers – an increase of over 900 police since May 2016.

Mr Hirst said this had significantly reduced burglary, anti-social behaviour and crime.

Since April 2016, incidents of antisocial behaviour have decreased by 72 per cent, and incidents of burglary have decreased by 51 per cent. In the 12 months to the end of December 2024, all crime in Essex decreased by 6.7 per cent.

Mr Hirst added: "We've built Essex Police into a position where it is successfully managing to reduce crime across the piece. Not just on anti-social behaviour, not just burglary but homicide and domestic abuse. They are all coming down. This is going to slow our ability to reduce crime."

Essex Police said even after proposing an increase in the precept by the maximum allowed and identifying new efficiency savings, there is still a £5.3m shortfall.

Mr Hirst said the Home Office did not confirm until January 21 that there would be no flexibility in the funding settlement and that if it reduced police officer headcount by more than 57, it would lose £7.9 million of ringfenced funding from The Police Uplift Programme (PUP).

At this point, Mr Hirst said he had no choice but to consider a crisis budget – either lose 216 police officers to cover the remaining deficit of £5.3 million or consider another way of meeting the deficit.

The proposed budget has reduced the number of other staff members to avoid the loss of 216 police officers.

He said: "I am disappointed and confused that the government should be wanting to see investment in this area but not providing the funding for it. I am really outraged. It is hugely frustrating."