Two 16 yr olds have been appointed as PCSOs bizarre, or what?

Question

It would appear Thames Valley have appointed these young people as PCSOs, I know the government wants policing on the cheap, but surely this is ridiculous.

Dog Lover it's true, but they have no real powers.

lebowski, they are not volunteers they get paid, the minimum wage I should imagine.

Answer 1

It really does beggar belief.

This is not the job for a 16 year old. It is a job for someone with certainly more life experience than what a 16 year old can offer.

I really can't understand the rationale behind it.

Answer 2

Perhaps these 2 16yr olds want to get more experience for when they are old enough to actually become proper police officers.

Just because someone is inexperienced in life it does not mean that they are incapable of learning off people with more experience.

Not all 16yr olds are immature and feel the need to feel that society owes them something or run with a gang of yobs.

Just hope they don't become 'jumped up little Hitlers' though.

Answer 3

Just typical of the Nanny PC world we live in today I'm afraid.. equality... ageism... you-name-it-ism.... blah blah blha

They are old enough to leave school - and, obviously, in the Thames Valley Police have the neccessary qualifications for the job it seems...

Makes me wonder... one is either OVER-qualified to be a refuse collector.. or qualified to be a PCSO... go figure..I can't fathom life out today in civvy street...

I reckon it's just another one of Nanny PC's glorified job titles to make people feel more important that what they actually are.

Imagine.. kids getting paid by Nanny PC's Govt to stay out on the streets.... WOW.. kids will be queing up to sign on the dotted line..

Can you imagine ANY 16-yo grassing on his/her peers should they see any misdemeanour.. such as throwing litter.. or worse still chewing gum on the pavement.. (and, chewing gum costs the councils tens of thousands of ££££'s... so it woudl be interesting to see how many such reports these eagle-eyed PCSO'S contribute to the scheme..)

You should have added a link to share this wonderous news..

Answer 4

i would say!!! i was 18 when i became a PCSO and it was difficult being as nieve as i was, but at 16 its impossible to give someone that kind of responsible position as you need to be able to empahise, sypathise and relate to the people on the streets, especially potentially violent persons i should know, been there done that.

Answer 5

how are they able to drive a patrol car at 16? or speak to people in a way that they listen and do as they are asked? you have to be over 18 to issue a fixed penalty notice so what do they do all day?

Answer 6

They should all be sacked.

If the country needs Police Officers, which it sorely does, then it should have properly trained police officers and not these crackerjacks.

They have to work in pairs, I think. I have never seen one on his/her own.

Answer 7

That's gotta be a head swelling job. I bet they will get all huffy with people now.

Answer 8

Or maybe it's fighting fire with fire...!

Who is better in touch with what young folk get up to - than young folk?

And who are they more likely to pay some kind of attention to - some old fart waffling on... or a member of their own peer group?

Answer 9

This is obviously a UK question.

But what I want to know is are you telling me that in the UK they hire 16 year old's into law enforcement? Seriously, you must be kidding? I need to know.

Answer 10

Someone’s got to do it! I guess finding volunteers is harder these days. Everyone is in it for the money except teenagers who are looking for experience for their future.