Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has defended Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), and called for their role in police forces to be expanded.
With the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), she set out a range of actions to be taken in the coming months to reinforce their roles on forces.
These included:
a new minimum age of 18 years
consistent powers in all forces across the country
common equipment and uniforms.
The Home Office will also now introduce a common code of practice for forces.
A set of 20 standard powers for PCSOs will take effect in all forces on 1 December.
This will ensure says the Government that their minimum responsibilities are consistent across the country, and will help them deal with day-to-day neighbourhood policing and low-level anti-social behaviour.
These powers will include the right to:
confiscate alcohol in public places
issue fixed penalty notices for anti-social behaviour
seize drugs
In addition, PCSOs will also be able to draw on further powers at the discretion of their chief constable.
These can include the right to:
detain people suspected of offences
issue fixed penalty notices for disorder, including misuse of fireworks and graffiti
search those suspected of carrying dangerous items
Home Secretary: rules should be clear
The Home Secretary said PCSOs need clear cut powers and legal rights, since their work is challenging.
‘Todayโs announcements will allow them to further develop the role,’ she said, adding, ‘Standardisation of powers, uniforms and equipment across all forces will ensure that the public know exactly who their PCSOs are and what to expect from them.’
Bob Jones, chairman of the Association of Police Authorities, said changes like these are crucial to ensure that communities have confidence in PCSOs. But more still needs to be done.
‘We consider it essential that, in addition, further work is carried out to ensure the views of communities are listened to and taken into account.’
Background
According to the authorities, first introduced in 2002, Community Support Officers are trained and equipped to perform a number of tasks formerly carried out by full police officers. Their presence frees up police officers to focus on their own work, and they also provide a valuable connection to people in the community. There are now 16,000 PCSOs working in England and Wales.
