A TOWN has lost so much faith in its police force it's hired its own law enforcement squad to patrol the streets.

Hertsmere Borough Council, in Hertfordshire, will end its funding for police community support officers next year.

The council, responsible for an area with a 107,000-population, is currently contributing £130,700 each year to Hertfordshire Constabulary for PCSOs.

The council's HQ is in Borehamwood, home of world-famous Elstree film studios where Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies have been filmed, as well as The Crown.

The council says it will get better value for money through its own enforcement squad.

The squad will tackle issues outside the police remit such as anti-social behaviour and fly tipping.

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But it is not known what official law enforcement powers they will have to set them apart from civilian "vigilantes".

The fear is they will not have official powers to arrest anyone if "it all kicks off".

PCSOs focus on preventing lower level crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.

Since 2007, the council has provided funding under the PCSO Incentive Scheme, with the police constabulary matching the council's money, and providing the necessary resources and back-up.

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The current yearly budget of £130,700, matched by the constabulary, pays for seven PCSO posts.

Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Shenton (Bushey St James), who is responsible for Hertsmere's budget, said: "We're not against PCSOs, we support PCSOs, we just think the police and crime commissioner should pay for them."

The council's portfolio holder for communities and enforcement, Labour councillor Christian Gray (Potters Bar Furzefield), said: "Our residents are being double-taxed to pay for PCSOs."

The police and crime commissioner's share of council tax rose from £223 to £238 per year on a band D property in 2023/24.

Coun Gray described this 6.7 per cent jump as a "very large increase on the council tax bill".

He said it was "not in Hertsmere Borough Council's gift to employ PCSOs" and the responsibility lay with Hertfordshire Constabulary.

But Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd, a Conservative, has attacked the "enforcers" idea.

He said: "The public repeatedly told me it was important for them to have more officers on the streets, so it is unhelpful that this funding has been withdrawn, especially as Hertsmere was one of the original councils who supported the initiative to have a high level of PCSOs."

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Conservative councillor Caroline Clapper (Aldenham West) previously told the authority that PCSOs had made "big wins" tackling anti-social behaviour in Radlett.

She said: "There is a difference between seeing your local police officer rather than your local 'enforcement officer' who you might be worried will give you a fine."

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