WEST Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has pledged not to reduce support officer numbers despite more Government cuts.

Kirklees and Calderdale councils, which match fund their boroughs’ Police Community Support Officers (PCSO), are facing more budget cuts due to savings announced in the Government’s spending review this week.

But West Yorkshire PCC Mark Burns-Williamson, announced he would not be cutting the force’s funding of PCSOs – as long as local authorities continued to match fund them.

Mr Burns-Williamson also promised to protect neighbourhood policing levels.

He said: “The cuts to the budget for policing, and all those agencies in community safety delivery and the criminal justice system who keep our communities safe, are substantial.

“In the current spending review we had already lost £100m, and the further six percent of cuts announced will be implemented if the coalition Government remains in power after the next General Election.

“Today, because the additional cuts to local government are so severe, I can pledge that I will not be cutting the money which is match funded as long as we can keep working together for the next three years.

“I will make sure we protect neighbourhood policing levels and work in partnership to deliver the services people expect locally.”