Watch: Burnham in plea over PCSOs during Telford visit
Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham called for Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to be protected from the axe while on a visit to Telford.
Telford & Wrekin Council is withdrawing funding for four of the officers in the borough, putting their jobs at risk.
But Mr Burnham, visiting the town to promote Labour's Daniel Walton as the next police commissioner for West Mercia, stressed how important they were.
"They certainly do play an important role and I would want to work with Daniel to support them," he said.
"They were a Labour innovation, they bought policing back out on to the streets, visible, in touch with local communities. PCSOs everywhere now are highly valued members of the community and, sadly, we are seeing them cut in their thousands under this government.
"Well we are proud of them, we will support them, and that's the message that Labour is giving out today.
"I think they have proved their worth over the years.
"Ask communities. We have just been in Birmingham this morning where people gathered 5,000 names on a petition to protect their PCSO – that's the community telling you what they think about their worth.
"I think all over the country they have got policing back out into communities and have really proved their value."
Mr Burnham said it was "regrettable" and "sad news" that the council had been forced to withdraw its funding for the PCSOs.
But he added: "We have a government that is cutting the police. They promised to protect the police budget, they have not done that.
"As a result of this government's decisions there are cuts to the police."
