Yesterday (21 January) Aphra Brandreth, MP for Chester South and Eddisbury, raised concerns about policing priorities in Cheshire during prime minister's questions, amid uncertainty over the future of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).

Last month, Cheshire Police announced plans to axe a number of PCSOs as part of cost-cutting measures to save £13 million over the next four years.

Following the subsequent backlash, PCC Dan Price held an extraordinary meeting of the police and crime panel earlier this month, to reveal how he hoped to save all 87 PCSOs – with the help of the public.

Residents in Cheshire are being asked if they would pay an extra couple of pounds a month towards the police precept in a bid to save all 87 PCSOs across the county. The precept consultation will close on Friday 23 January.

During PMQs, Ms Brandreth stressed the importance of PCSOs to visible community policing, particularly in rural areas, and questioned the approach being taken by PCC Dan Price.

She said: "My constituents of Chester South and Eddisbury are deeply concerned by proposed cuts to PCOS across Cheshire.

"The labour PCC, Dan Price, was silent on this issue. Seemingly content to see numbers slasher across the county until residents and local MPs spoke out.

"Now he seeks to present himself as campaigning to save PCSOs, whilst proposing to substantially increase the precept - all at the same time as planning to increase spending on his office by £513,000 next year."

She asked Keir Starmer if the move represented a "failure of leadership" and if the money would be "far better" spent increasing PCSOs on the streets of Cheshire.

The PM responded: "This comes from the party that broke our criminal justice system. Just like the fact they broke our economy, and our NHS. They hollowed out local policing; we're restoring it with 3000 new officers in spring of this year."

On Wednesday afternoon, PCC Dan Price responded to Ms Brandreth's questions, stating she had "misled parliament and the public".

He said: "People are frankly fed up from cheap point scoring from politicians with the wrong information.

"As for the budget; it hasn't even been finalised yet and it's a bit embarrassing that Aphra doesn't know that any additional costs for my office are for preventing crime, supporting victims and for engaging with our residents.

"She's happy to grandstand in parliament but hasn't even bothered to write to me about PCOSs. It is ludicrous to suggest I've not been working hard to save them."

He also outlined his plans to meet with all Cheshire MPs today (22 January) to talk about neighbourhood policing.

Speaking after PMQs, Aphra Brandreth said: "I am disappointed that the Police and Crime Commissioner only addressed these plans after public pressure. You cannot claim to be standing up for PCSOs while planning a £513,000 increase in your own office budget.

"Our PCSOs and police officers do an outstanding job in challenging circumstances, and I am hugely grateful for their dedication. The PCC must now be clear about his priorities and explain why households should pay more while his own office costs increase."