Why was a PCSO performing a police duty?

Question

I would think to peform an eviction you would have police officers present and not a single PCSO, and if they are using them for these tasks why are they not supplied proper equipment.

Answer 1

they have neither the equipment nor the training. they are a cheap way of getting some sort of police presence on the street. some of them are very good and I suppose we should be glad that we have someone about who can summon help when required

Answer 2

The PCSO was the local Community Support Officer, he arrived before the police constables. The eviction was not in full swing, the man who stabbed him had already had a conversation with the PCSO and bailiffs. He went back inside the house and then came out and stabbed the PCSO. The PCSO wasn't performing a police duty. He was merely awaiting the arrival of the police.
It is a terrible tragedy and this man was only doing his job. I understand he has a partner and four children, and my thoughts will be with them this Christmas.

Answer 3

PCSO's are normally only meant to attend very low level incidents, usually youths drinking on the streets, criminal damage, nuisance vehicles and suspicious incidents that may warrant the call for a police officer but may not.
PCSO's in my area also attend incidents of "persons at scene" ie.burglars breaking into a house if they are:The closest (ie around the corner on foot) or asked to accompany a police officer. We also attend car accidents and reports of persons trapped in their house (ie sick/elderly people) and break in.

From what i understand, this PCSO was responsible for the local area and had been asked to attend by his supervisor and meet the bailiffs there.He was under instruction to wait for police officers and then assist them and the bailiffs in preventing a breach of the peace. He was stabbed in an unprovoked manner, whilst waiting outside the chap came running out and attacked him and then attacked the people giving first aid. Yes, good practice would have been to accompany a beat manager/other PC however an event like this is quite unheard of and the PCSO could have rightly assumed to have been quite safe waiting outside with about 5 other people for backup to arrive.

It should be noted that preventing a breach of the peace isn't solely a "police duty", it is the duty of every person in the country. The police officers wouldn't have been there to evict the tenant, as it is a civil matter. They would be there to keep the peace.

Answer 4

PCSO's do not perform police duties as they are not trained in the law as police officers are.They are there to support the community and the police in their duties.PCSO's usually deal with community stuff and develop a good rapport with members of the community and are often able to respond to things such as neighbour disputes,youths causing annoyance etc and an officer may not need to attend. They are often more efficient at calming things down as they are seen as less threatening.
If the police had to attend every eviction in the country,who would police the streets and the blue line is extremely thin these days? Police try to use their resources as efficiently as they can but for some people it still isn't enough.

Answer 5

I assume you're talking about the case where the PCSO got stabbed the other day? I can only assume police presence was due to be there as well and the PCSO was back up but obviously something went wrong. I'm sure this will come out in the press shortly though!

Answer 6

The PCSOs are on the street because most of the Police prefer to stay in their nice cosy Police Stations supping tea and coffee, or swatting up on the latest PC doctrines to emerge from Tony and Ian Bliar.

Answer 7

It said in the paper i read this morning that "regular officers had been called but the SO got there first".
Which i believe isn't correct because dont the officers go with the bailiffs? Not wait to be called? And as far as Im aware SO's aren't allowed to answer 'police' calls.
But whatever the truth, they should be issued with proper equipment because the possiblity of them ending up in violent/dangerous situations is really high. Obviously the fact that they're not will be down to money.

Answer 8

Good Afternoon, Probably because they are short of policemen,
they've just cutback again on numbers, there's a shortage of
' budget '. Maybe because they've busted the bank by spending so much on ' other ' jobs. Like bombs to obliterate
Iraq etc. We could have put the whole of Africa right again for the money they've wasted bombing folk....Mugabi aint got no OIL..
In the meantime...people die for the sake of a drink of
clean water...Best Wishes,jd.

Answer 9

Who cares?

Answer 10

its to let real plod do the real police work, its cheaper to get pcso
to do every day grass root policeing, good economy eh! prats.