PCSOs are paid employees but do not have powers of arrest unless accompanied by a constable. The proposed redundancies are subject to consultation. Hirst thanked the government for listening to his concerns and said work would continue to establish a long-term funding settlement for the force.

An extra £100million of government funding will go "some way" to address a £5.3million budget gap, the commissioner has said

A funding boost for police nationwide of £100 million will help bridge a budget shortfall that would have lead to every PCSO in Essex being made redundan