AN EAST Lancashire Liberal Democrat peer has slammed his own coalition's police cuts which could see 409 PCSOs axed.

Pendle-based Lord Tony Greaves has called on the Government to save the community support officers.

Last week every PCSO in Lancashire was told they could be made redundant as the force works out how to save £50million over the next four years.

Lord Greaves, who is also a councillor in Pendle, said it was 'bizarre' that community policing was set to suffer as part of the cuts.

He has tabled five questions to the Government in the House of Lords on the issue.

Lord Greaves said: “Lancashire has led the way in community policing and in most areas it has been a real success.

“That is certainly the case here in Pendle. The PCSOs are the very foundation of that success.

"They are the eyes and ears of the police and a friend and support for residents.”

Lord Greaves asked the government what the implications are of the spending review for the funding of PCSOs in Lancashire, what account they are taking of the success of PCSOs in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, what representations they have received on the matter from Lancashire, and what advice they are giving to the police authority and to the Chief Constable.

Lord Greaves said: “I am also asking the Government whether local neighbourhood policing and in particular Police Community Support Officers will have a significant role to play in the Big Society, and if so what that role will be.

“It seems crazy that a Conservative Secretary of State (Theresa May) can contemplate slashing local policing.

“It also seems bizarre that a system which is working well and involving a lot of local residents in 'PACT' meetings and community safety partnerships and the like should be dismantled at the very time that the Government says it wants to involve a lot more people in the 'Big Society'."