Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department is taking steps to increase the (a) capability and (b) number of (i) Police Community Support Officers and (ii) Community Safety Accreditation Scheme officers in Bournemouth East constituency.

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are a valued part of the police workforce, working with others to act as a key liaison point to help resolve local issues and foster good community relations.

Decisions around recruitment and retention of PCSOs, their powers and duties, are for Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners.  Similarly, the use of the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme is a local matter for Chief Constables.

On the 2^nd February 2022, the Government published a total police funding settlement of up to £16.9 billion in 2022/23, an increase of up to £1.1 billion when compared to 2021/22.

Dorset's funding will be up to £159.1m in 2022/23, an increase of up to £8m when compared to 2021/22.