DORSET’S police community support officers (PCSOs) could be drafted in to fight fires as part of a new agreement.

The county’s top officer, Chief Constable James Vaughan, said new measures are being sought to tackle the force’s ongoing financial problems.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the officer made the unprecedented warning that his force may soon “no longer be able to provide anything but the most basic services” as a result of their problems.

Firefighters will be called on to support police, while PCSOs could be drafted in as retained fire crews, he said.

“We are already working with the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service,” Chief Constable Vaughan said this week.

“They are taking some of our demand from us.”

Fire crews may go to cases where a person has collapsed behind a door, or where there is a “cause for concern”, instead of police, he said.

In return, the fire service will use PCSOs as on-call firefighters.

“They will be retained and made available at no cost,” said Chief Constable Vaughan.

“Without government relief, my worry is that my ability to reconcile falling resources with growing demand has reached a point where I can no longer do that. There is growing demand and we are also dealing with more complex demand.

“We have crossed over a line where I can reconcile those two things.”

Police need to find a “radical and fundamental review” of the services officers provide, he said.

“Of course, we will continue to protect the vulnerable. Of course, we will respond to emergencies. Of course, we will still prioritise serious crime,” he said.

“What may come under pressure is our ability to attend lower priority crimes, such as high volume crime and anti-social behaviour.”

Chief Constable Vaughan also told the Daily Echo of his concerns for staff.

On average, detectives are dealing with 20 serious crimes at any given time, he said.

“That places an enormous strain on an individual,” he said.

“That’s not something I can sustain as an employer for much longer. I do need to congratulate my work force, who continue to do more with less year on year. They still manage to deliver good service.”

Police officers “strive to give really, really good service” to Dorset residents, he added.