VICTIMS of crime in Dorset may be interviewed by PCSOs in the future as the force battles government funding cuts.

A widescale review of the role is currently underway in the county.

It has been claimed that PCSOs either in rural areas or towns may take on additional roles as statement takers due to a shortage in warranted officers.

This has not yet been confirmed by the force.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Cooper, of Dorset Police, said PCSOs are "highly valued".

“As an organisation we see real value in our neighbourhood policing teams," he said.

"We are currently reviewing our approach to understand the demands placed on neighbourhood teams with a view to improving our overall policing response in the current climate, while ensuring that we have the right resources in the right places.

"PCSOs are – and will remain to be – a highly valued role, making a valuable contribution to community engagement and building local intelligence.’’

PCSOs are uniformed staff who support the work of police officers.

In Dorset, PCSOs work as part of neighbourhood policing teams. Their primary role is to provide a regular and effective presence within their community.

A spokesperson from the force said the offices must "prevent. detect and reduce low-level problems", as well as "providing high levels of engagement".

Dorset's police and crime commissioner Martyn Underhill has previously pledged to protect PCSOs by ring-fencing funding.

He said: “Dorset was in a minority of forces that did not reduce PCSO numbers between 2012 and 2016.

"I have pledged to retain the PCSO role in Dorset and this remains the case. Dorset Police is currently undertaking a review to ensure we have the right resources in the right places, but let me be clear.

"We need to reinvest in the totality of policing nationally.

"Voicing funding concerns to the new government, irrespective of who takes power, is a top priority of mine.

"Until such a time, we are not able to make fully informed budgeting decisions, but resources will continue to be targeted on the basis of threat, risk and harm.”