FUNDING for police community support officers has been slashed by Essex County Council.

The council announced it is cutting funding for PCSOs from £250,000 to £100,000 in the 2010/11 budget.

Police say the reduction in cash, used to fund and match-fund officers across the county, will not lead to redundancies.

Robert Chambers, a county councillor and chairman of Essex Police Authority, said he understood the decision as the UK battles to rise further out of recession.

He said: “I was very grateful to the county council for giving us £250,000 for PCSOs.

“I realise, in the difficult economic situation, the county council is obviously having to be extremely careful, as indeed the police authority is as well. As much as I appreciate the money, I understand why they have to say they have to cut back this year.”

Mr Chambers has insisted this will not mean redundancies for PCSOs in the county.

He said: “This will not mean to say necessarily there are now fewer PCSOs.

“What we are looking at is the possibility of having more regular sworn-in police officers, and over the course of time a few less PCSOs.

“That has been our priority for some time now.

“Neighbourhood policing will continue and will continue to expand as and when the funding is available.”

Mr Chambers said any funding shortfall could be absorbed by looking at whether PCSOs need to be replaced when they leave or retire from the force.

Last month, it emerged savings made through Operation Apex – Ambition for Policing in Essex – will be used to try to maintain the force’s staffing levels, including the 239 extra officers recruited in the past 18 months.

Plans to have an additional 600 officers on the streets at the end of the operation are on hold.