CRITICISM is mounting over the £250,000 cost to council tax payers for community policing in the wake of the latest stabbing in Southend.

Southend Council has launched a community policing team to try to stem a rising tide of crime and antisocial behaviour in the town centre.

However, a freedom of information request submitted by social housing safety campaigner Colin Nickless reveals the starting pay for a community safety officer who has no powers of arrest is £23,866 while pay for a newly recruited police officer with full powers to deal with criminals currently stands at £24,518.

The council has set aside £250,000 a year to pay for the six officers headed by a manager on £41,866. A security firm is currently providing this service at the same cost while the recruitment is underway.

Mr Nickless from Southend, said: “Essex has lost 750 police officers between 2010-2018 and many more support staff, essential for public safety. The town of Southend has suffered from a serious crime epidemic and Southend Council has hired private security firm to patrol the high street.

“The cost of staffing private security is comparable with police officer salaries, however without the arresting powers. Therefore, questions must be asked, if residents have already paid for this service, where the money is coming from to fund it?”

Martin Terry, Independent councillor for Thorpe ward is also concerned residents are getting poor value for money.

He said: “We are calling for the reinstatement if the Southend Borough Police because we are not getting what we pay for from the police fire and crime commissioner.

“We have the highest crime rates and we’re not getting the resources. We have higher crime rates than any other Essex towns put together. The Government has cut our police numbers and we are having to pay for an inferior service by the back door.”

Mr Terry acknowledged the community safety team had helped with homelessness and begging, but he added: “We want to see uniformed police officers on the street. People who can feel collars.

“When they made the cuts, they scrapped the town beat team and now council taxpayers are having to foot the bill.

“We are getting what amounts to five new police officers, taking holidays and rest days into account. It’s not enough. They are giving officers to others places which have far fewer crime rates. Saffron Walden has 450 crimes a month and we are getting 1,000.

“I want Southend to be the safest place in Essex, not the most dangerous.”

'It was the right thing to do'

James Courtenay, deputy leader of Southend Council, said: “Putting in additional community safety resources to tackle antisocial behaviour was the right thing to do for a number of reasons, including to respond to the numerous concerns that we were hearing from people and business, to support the work that the police already do, and to create a truly joint community safety hub working together.

“This investment also followed the detailed cross party scrutiny project into this issue, and the clear message that our existing community safety team was not sufficiently resourced to be able to respond and support partner agencies like the police as it would wish to, both strategically and operationally. 

"Funding was rightfully agreed earlier this year and I am pleased that the council has been able to invest in this important priority for the borough.”

Mr Courtenay added: “Getting the interim team started in October was a direct result of the High Street summit meeting held, and it is clear from feedback that the uniformed and visible presence is a good investment as it has been welcomed by shoppers and businesses alike, with numerous positive comments received, and that those who want and need help and support are being given it.”

Southend MPs Sir David Amess and James Duddridge did not respond.