Local councillors met with Superintendent Euros Lewis, deputy divisional commander of the Pembrokeshire Division of Dyfed Powys Police, at their meeting on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of funding a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) for Tenby. Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane felt that, while there may be an obvious need for a PCSO in the town, the council had been made to feel as if they were being held in front of a gun barrel with regard to being expected to find funding to pay for one. Her colleague, Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter, also felt that councillors would have to justify to the ratepayers of the town why they would be spending the money on a PCSO. Superintendent Lewis reassured councillors that there was no chance of reducing the current number of police officers in the town and that a PCSO would be brought in specifically to work closely in the community and get to know the ins and outs of the town. Deputy Mayor, Clr. John Griffiths, explained to Superintendent Lewis that Tenby unfortunately had a reputation during the summer for anti-social behaviour and that, while a police officer on the streets would reduce this problem by 50 per cent, would a PCSO have the same effect? Clr. Mrs. Lane also wanted to know if a PCSO had enough power to be able to make a difference in these types of situation. "A PCSO walking around the town in full uniform would make a difference; they would be the eyes and ears of the town, and even though they don't have the powers of arrest, I'm sure that they would reduce crime and anti-social behaviour," replied Superintendent Lewis. "The whole ethos is getting to the crime before it starts; prevention is a damned site better than cure," he added, with Clr. Mike Evans explaining that he had seen the positive effect the PCSOs working in Haverfordwest and Milford Haven had had on those communities. Deputy Mayor, Clr. Griffiths, thanked Superintendent Lewis for meeting with them and said that they would consider the police authority's proposal.
