Councillors in the Staffordshire Moorlands have united to call for a rethink on controversial changes to police community support officer shifts.

Elected members at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council unanimously supported a motion calling for Staffordshire Police's proposed changes to PCSO shift patterns to be reconsidered.

The changes would see PCSO patrols cut back in the evenings and on weekends, which the force says will allow them to be deployed during busier periods in town centres and shopping areas.

But critics claim the proposals will reduce community safety, and also point out that PCSOs' pay being cut.

Unison has been balloting 160 PCSOs on strike action, with the ballot due to end on Friday. Independent district councillor Jill Salt, who proposed the motion, told a full council meeting that the changes would have a 'damaging impact' on neighbourhood policing and public safety.

She said: "The College of Policing states that PCSOs should provide visible patrols, community engagement, targeted problem solving, and reassurance to the public.

"Their role is specifically designed to prevent crime, tackle anti-social behaviour, and reduce fear of crime. That is why the proposed reduction of PCSO coverage in the evenings is so deeply concerning.

"These changes will effectively halve the number of PCSOs available during the very times communities need them most, evenings and weekends.

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"Police officers and PCSOs perform different functions. Neighborhood officers are often redeployed to response duties, but PCSOs remain embedded in their community. They are the consistent, consistent face people recognized. Many PCSOs have worked in the same communities for 10, 15, or even 20 years."

Cllr Salt raised concerns that the changes could result in long-serving PCSOs leaving the force, and warned that it would take years to rebuild such experience and trust.

The motion, which calls on the council to write to Staffordshire Commissioner Ben Adams (Conservative PCC) to request that the changes be reconsidered, received support from across the council's political groups.

Conservative group leader Mark Deaville said: "PCSOs have undoubted value to the local community. Visible patrols have undoubted value to the local community, and local is best. I think we all agree with that.

"I know that our Police, Crime and Fire Commissioner Ben Adams, will listen to these points, and will consider these points."

Labour councillor Matthew Spooner said: "We often talk about trust between the public and institutions, and it's been a particular issue over the past few years. In an age of disinformation, the PCSOs are a vital link between communities and Staffordshire Police.

"I think it's an absolute shame that we could potentially lose those individuals who do such fantastic work within our communities, and I think that we should do everything that we can to support them."

District councillors also spoke in favour of inviting Mr Adams and Acting Chief Constable Becky Riggs to next month's meeting of the community overview and scrutiny panel to answer questions on the issue.

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Staffordshire Police has previously said that the proposals for PCSOs are 'evidence based' and would not result in any reduction in PCSO numbers or working hours,

Mr Adams said the changes to shift patterns would 'positively impact' on the visiblity of local police, by allowing PCSOS 'to be in the right place at the right times.

He said: "It is the chief constable's responsibility to determine staff and officers are deployed to meet national and local priorities, however, recognising the importance of this conversation, I met with Unison during the consultation period to hear their concerns and to ensure that feedback from our PCSOs was being given full consideration.

"I was satisfied that this was the case and that communities would benefit from the shift changes and additional investment in officers."