A REFERENDUM could be held to ask Knutsfordians if they want more police officers on the street.

Knutsford Town Council is to investigate the possibility of funding additional police community support officers (PCSOs) for the town.

Clr Mike Houghton placed the item on the agenda at the latest meeting of the full town council last week.

He said he had been asked to bring it to council after speaking to the electorate in his ward, Bexton.

He told councillors it was a case of seeing if Knutsfordians believed there was a need for a greater police presence.

Insp Steve Griffiths was in attendance at the meeting and councillors were able to ask the town’s senior police officer about the current provision for PCSOs in Knutsford.

He told the attendees that the town is currently covered by four PCSOs.

An example was given of Poynton, which also held a referendum on the matter of more PCSOs.

Clr Andrew Malloy added: “I agree with Clr Houghton and there should be more police on the street and we are being asked to talk about it.

“Four seems a reasonable number and I do know that Middlewich [town council] has part-funded a PCSO and we should look into it.”

Clr Simon Hutchence argued that a costly-referendum was probably not needed.

“We have been elected to make these decisions and I don’t believe we would have to go back to Knutsford residents and the cost that that would incur,” he said.

But he was told that as the funding of a PCSO was outside of the council’s ‘normal remit’ then they would have to hold a referendum.

Councillors were told this would cost £2,000 if it was held on its own but cheaper if held at the same time as an national or local election.

Do you think the town needs more police officers? Let us know by emailing knutsford@guardiangrp.co.uk.