A former home secretary and Norwich MP has hit out at plans to axe all of Norfolk's Police Community Support Officers – and called for the decision to be reversed.

Eastern Daily Press: A PCSO keeping his eye out for illegal parkers in Dussindale. PHOTO: ANTONY KELLYA PCSO keeping his eye out for illegal parkers in Dussindale. PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY (Image: � ARCHANT NORFOLK 2010)

Proposals announced by the Norfolk force include axing all 150 PCSOs, closing seven stations and shutting front desks to the public as part of a move that would

save £2m.

But pressure is today mounting on the government to intervene to spare PCSOs from the chop.

Charles Clarke, who was part of the Labour government when PCSOs were introduced in 2002 and served as home secretary between 2004 and 2006, said: 'I was very disappointed to hear of the Norfolk Police decision to abolish PCSOs.

Eastern Daily Press: Picture of PCSO and cyclist on London Street. Photo: Angela SharpePicture of PCSO and cyclist on London Street. Photo: Angela Sharpe (Image: Archant � 2008)

'PCSOs play a very important role in strengthening the relationship between the police and local communities, contributing significantly to both preventing and solving crimes. I hope that Norfolk Police will reverse its decision.'

The call from Mr Clarke, who served as Norwich South MP from 1997 until 2010, comes as it emerged Unison, the union which represents PCSOs, has written to the current home secretary Amber Rudd, calling on her to step in and overturn the decision.

Meanwhile, there is also increasing support for an online petition, launched via the change.org website, and which demands sufficient funding of the police so the redundancies can be avoided.

More than 1,400 people have now signed the petition, which was organised by North West Norfolk Labour Party secretary Jo Rust.

Norfolk's Labour group on Norfolk County Council has also opposed the move with leader, Steve Morphew, warning 'this will come back to bite us'.

The 150 PCSOs at risk would be replaced with 81 new police officers and 16 non-officer roles and follows the biggest review in the force's history.

Norfolk's chief constable Simon Bailey said it would be the biggest change to the force in decades and he described the day he made the announcement as one of his hardest days in the job.