NEIGHBOURHOOD policing is ‘dying’, a union protesting against cuts to community supports officers has claimed.

Unison, which represents police staff including CSOs, has warned there has been a 14 per cent reduction at Cheshire Police since 2010.

The findings were revealed today after the public sector union carried out a report, entitled ‘Trouble in Neighbourhood’.

It said 337 CSOs - or one in six - have been cut across the north west.

Dave Prentis, Unison general secretary, said: “Neighbourhood policing is dying on the beat.

“What took years to build up is being lost because of reckless Government cuts.

“PCSOs are under growing pressure.

“They tell us how they have to cover larger beats and more of them have to work alone, often leading them to feel vulnerable.

As revealed in the Warrington Guardian, John Dwyer, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, said in December further CSO cuts will not be made at Cheshire Police.

He is aiming to keep numbers at the current level of 222 by recruiting 15 support officers.