This week the City Council debated an important motion on policing in Worcester — a topic that touches every household, every street and every community in our city. Although I was unable to attend due to illness, I am grateful to my Liberal Democrat colleague, Jessie Jagger, who spoke on my behalf, and I want to share with residents why this debate mattered.
Across West Mercia, significant savings are being proposed, including the loss of essential police staff and the restricting of PCSO hours to finish at 8pm. These are not abstract decisions. They affect real people, real neighbourhoods, and the visibility of policing at the times when residents need reassurance the most.
We hear regularly from residents who are worried about a decline in neighbourhood policing. PCSOs play a vital role: they are the eyes and ears of our communities, they build relationships, and they are often the first point of contact when something doesn’t feel right. Reducing their presence in the evenings — when anti-social behaviour disproportionately occurs — will not go unnoticed.
The proposals to move civilian roles onto police officers are also deeply concerning. Officers are already under immense pressure. Removing skilled staff from behind the scenes risks stretching officers even further, taking them away from frontline duties and slowing down the support that victims depend upon.
We are also seeing increasing pressure in high-demand areas such as online harassment and malicious communications. These cases are complex, time-consuming and emotionally draining for both victims and officers. Cuts to staff will only make it harder for police to keep pace with the volume of reports.
Fundamentally, this is about transparency. Councillors cannot provide calm, informed leadership if we ourselves do not know what the proposed £27 million in savings will mean in practice. Residents deserve clear information about what is changing, why it is changing, and how it will affect the support they receive.
That is why Liberal Democrats supported this motion. We want clarity, honesty and accountability. We want neighbourhood policing that is properly resourced and visible. And above all, we want communities to feel safe and supported — not left in the dark.
Thank you to everyone who contacted me ahead of the meeting to share their concerns. Your experiences and your worries matter, and I will continue to push for the transparency and reassurance Worcester deserves.
If you have any questions or concerns about policing in your area, please do get in touch.
Cllr Sarah Murray
Liberal Democrat, Worcester City Council
Lib Dem Spokesperson for Policing & Community Safety in West Mercia
