The vital police role carried out by murdered mum Julia James is being axed by her force.
Julia, 53, was serving as a Domestic Abuse Support Officer when she was bludgeoned to death on a walk in woods near her home two years ago.
Now Kent Police is set to ditch the DASO role completely as it slashes its Police Community Support Officers by two thirds.
But the force has been accused of being short-sighted and throwing away Julia’s legacy with its cost-cutting measure.
Local councillor Peter Walker said: “Julia left a legacy of the value of PCSOs and what they do for the community, particularly where domestic abuse is concerned. That will now be lost.
“The loss of these roles is more significant than you would think.”
The force’s plan – said to be saving almost £7million – will cut its 336 full-time PCSOs down to just 104.
Mr Walker added: “We can expect domestic abuse cases and petty crime cases to rise, which will impact victims immensely.
“I’ve written to the Home Secretary about the importance of community services and the immeasurable link PCSOs provide between the police and council.
“My only hope is that they take some of those 200 PCSOs and train them up to be police officers.”
Julia’s killer, loner Callum Wheeler, was 21 when he ambushed her as she walked her dog near her home in Snowdown, Kent, in April 2021, beating her with a 3ft metal jack.
He was given a life sentence in July at Canterbury crown court and will serve at least 37 years for her murder.
Ian Pointon of Unison, which represents police staff, said: “I can understand why Julia’s family may be upset by her role going, I’m sure for them it’s part of her legacy.
“DASOs have told me of their ability to build relationships with victims who’ve declined to talk to a police officer.
“These PCSOs will be replaced by police officers with all their powers, but experience tells me those officers will be drawn away for other, unrelated priorities.
“Unlike the DASOs, they won’t be able to focus their attention so keenly on victims. We won’t know what we’ve lost until it’s too late.”
Kent Deputy Chief Constable Peter Ayling said: “Julia will not be forgotten by her friends in this force, her legacy lives on with all of us.
“Her name is engraved on the force’s Wall of Remembrance and commemorated annually, and the force’s PCSO of the year award is named after Julia.”
