Enjoying the sunshine, three police officers perch next to a lake while they supervise a teenager on a fishing trip. Two of the officers seem more interested in checking their mobile phones and chatting than keeping an eye on the bored-looking tearaway.
Police say the publicly funded expedition was organised to help officers bond with the community and ‘get young people involved in positive activities’.
But this image, captured by a passer-by, has provoked outrage as the same force prepares to make £36million of cuts and close six police stations.
Cash-strapped Hertfordshire Police found the resources to send three police community support officers – nicknamed Blunkett bobbies after the Labour home secretary who introduced them – on the jaunt to a lake in Hemel Hempstead.
But while the PCSOs seemed to be having a good day, the teenager looked uninterested as the fishing rod sat on a stand by his side.
Last night one resident said: ‘Shouldn’t they be out catching criminals rather than fish?’
They also questioned whether officers should be enjoying a day out while crime figures in the area rose. Read More
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