Felixstowe pays for its own PCSO

Felixstowe Town Council agreed to pay £34,000 a year for a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) for the next two years

A town is to pay for its own Police Community Support Officer (PCSO).

Felixstowe Town Council will spend £34,000 a year on the role for two years.

Mayor Graham Newman said the council had to decide whether to "do something", or "sit back and take whatever the Chief Constable [of Suffolk Police] has to offer".

Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore said the decision was "very welcome".

Mr Newman said: "I know the police are not in a position to be here 24/7 to monitor the kind of things [a PCSO would be able to look into]."

Mr Passmore said: "I think it will reassure people in that vicinity that Suffolk continues to be a very safe place as is Felixstowe."

Mayor Graham Newman said the town had to decide to "do something"