Community Police Officers?

Question

Without the power of arrest do they really make a difference?

Answer 1

PCSOs are not police officers and do not perform the same duties. Schedule 4 of the Police Reform Act 2002 sets out the powers available to PCSOs:
issue fixed penalty tickets for minor anti-social behaviour
confiscate alcohol being consumed in designated public places
confiscate tobacco from young people
enter and search premises to save life and limb or prevent serious damage
seize vehicles used to cause harm to other persons
remove abandoned vehicles
carry out road checks in the company of a constable
enforce cordoned areas in the event of a suspected terrorist incident
search bags and stop and search motor vehicles with a constable under the terrorism Act 2000
require the name and address of a person acting in an anti-social manner
detain a person for up to 30 minutes pending the arrival of a constable
use reasonable force to detain a person under certain circumstances.
Most of what a PCSO does,requires the attendance of a Police Officer,so quite honestly, are rather a waste of time and money!!
Good old "New Labour"!!!

Answer 2

I think they could make a huge difference if utilised correctly by local boroughs.
The rest of the continent has a similar system in place and it works just fine. The problem is people seem to have no respect for policing on the whole.
It's very evident on this website alone. Just because the police come along and spoil people's fun, it doesn't mean that
a) We should slag them off.
b) they don't have a very important role to play in society
and c) They exist solely to make people's lives a misery.

Community support officers were never meant to replace Police Constables, they are there to be seen on the streets as a visible presence and to be a point of contact between public and police. The eyes and ears of the police.

I'm a police officer and the amount of time I spend completing paperwork is just not funny, when I arrest someone I can be off the streets for several hours just processing the arrest and completing paperwork. If my entire team each gets an arrest, who is left to be out on the streets for the public to approach if they need assistance. Community support officers have first aid, officer safety training, driving skills, cycle training and quite often traffic training. They are in direct contact with police via their radio and some, such at transport police PCSOs carry handcuffs to detain suspects.

Imagine how many cordons had to be put in place after the London bombings last year...do you think the Met could've handled that without PCSOs?
The PCSOs on my team are a valuable asset to the Metropolitan Police Service.

Answer 3

Community Police Officers, or PCSO's police and community safety officers, can use their citizens power of arrest, and are in place to support the regular force with the more routine matters. they respond to urgent calls , and perform most of the tasks regular officers undertake. There is a difference when it comes to powers of search etc, but their presence has made a profound impact on the community. So the absence of a Constables power of arrest is only a very limited hinderence, and they do make a distinctive difference in the ares they work

Answer 4

I'm not sure what you are talking about. In my area, community police officers are regular sworn officers with the power of arrest. The difference is they are assigned to a particular area like a specific neighborhood for long periods of time and concentrate more on specific complaints and community interaction than general patrol. I can't imagine that a department would give them the title of "police officer" without the power of arrest but I guess anything is possible. I would check on that with your local police.

Answer 5

Yes

PCSOs make a difference by acting as a communication aid. The role wasn't designed to chase after little kids and have them give them the run around knowing they can't be arrested. PCSOs were put in place to encourage the communities that there's a presence and that people of the community can talk to them knowing it would filter back to the station.
PCSOs help with neighbourhood disputes and engage with the community whilst the real PC's are out catching criminals.

Answer 6

I was initially against them, but I can see benefits to them

1, High visisbilty (will go someway to restoring public confidence in the force)

2, Minor matters that dont require a Police Officer can be dealt with, therefore more efective use of resource.

3, More interaction with communities that have a negative view of law enforcement, could become friends with locals, cant be a bad thing...... can it?

Answer 7

Hi!

If regular Police Officers can't demand the respect they deserve (with the powers of arrest), I don't see how Hobby Bobbies are gonna make any difference.

Answer 8

silly that isnt it !! They get paid 21k per year the same as regular police officers but dont have the same powers. They wear the same uniform and are employed by the same authority, so why not the same powers. So to answer your question, NO, I dont think they make a difference, just another stupid idea from the government !!!

Answer 9

I assume you are refering to some police citizen group in your area. The Community police I am familair with are real police officers assigned to foot patrol in a given area

Answer 10

We all have the power to arrest anyway..its called a citizens arrest !