NEIGHBOURHOOD policing will be a top priority of Cheshire’s police chief in the coming year.

Police and crime commissioner David Keane has vowed to place a police community support officer (PCSO) in every community as he sets out his 2018/19 vision for his third year in office.

Mr Keane said: “PCSOs are an important part of local policing teams across Cheshire and should have more visibility in our communities.

“They should be the‘eyes and ears’ of local communities, gathering intelligence to deal with complex police issues, whilst providing support to vulnerable residents, and focusing on making our roads safer.”

As well as strengthening neighbourhood policing, he also plans to cut costs by restructuring his support team.

He will not be replacing his deputy Sareda Dirir when her 12-month contract expires. Axeing this post will save £50,000.

Mr Keane said: “Sareda is an experienced and dedicated public servant and she has been an asset to the team over the last year, helping to support our shared goals.

“She has assisted real and positive changes for this office, including helping secure ‘white ribbon’ and ‘living wage’ employer status.

“Critically, she has also helped drive forward the equality and diversity agenda, and has worked to put Cheshire at the centre of British Policing through hosting the 2017 National Black Police Association Conference.

“I would like to thank Sareda for her dedication in serving the people of Cheshire over the last year, and wish her every success for the future.”

He will recruit a new chief finance officer when the current post-holder Liz Lunn retires.

Mr Keane added: “Reducing the cost of my office to just 0.4 per cent of the whole Cheshire policing budget will allow me re-invest savings into neighbourhood policing and ensure the right resources are in place to protect the people of Cheshire.

“I have some incredible people working alongside me.”

“Together as a team - working with our partners and Cheshire Constabulary - we have developed a number of innovative and collaborative initiatives that are helping make our communities across Cheshire safer.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our out-going chief finance officer Liz Lunn for her many years of work delivering for our local communities.

“We are a small and efficient team and we’ve set out to achieve some incredibly bold ambitions for my third year in office.

“Together, we will drive forward the main priorities of my police and crime plan and that means continuing to build closer relationships with our partners and the wider communities of Cheshire and ensuring we’re holding the constabulary to account on the key issues that matter.”