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What are 'Police Community Support Officers' and how are they different to 'Community Beat Managers' and 'Specials'?
What do you hope to achieve by using PCSOs in Cambridgeshire?
PCSOs are being introduced as part of a Home Office funded scheme. By providing extra visibility in the community, Cambridgeshire Constabulary aim to reduce the number of crimes linked to anti-social behaviour, increase reassurance within the community and deal with low level crime, such as vandalism, so police officers can focus on more serious crimes.
Will the PCSOs be fully trained police officers?
The PCSOs have completed a specially designed training course. This covers issues such as: how and when their powers should be exercised; community and race relations; legislation; health and safety; conflict resolution and first aid. They will be accountable in the same way as police officers.
What powers do the PCSOs have?
Amongst others, they are able to:
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Enter premises to save life and limb or prevent serious damage to property;
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Seize vehicles used to cause alarm;
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Issue Fixed Penalty Notices for offences of cycling on footways, dog fouling and litter;
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Require names and addresses from suspects;
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Require names and addresses from persons acting in an anti-social manner;
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Confiscate and dispose of alcohol from underage persons;
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Seize and dispose of tobacco from underage persons; and
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Authorise removal of abandoned vehicles.
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Will they wear a uniform?
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Yes, they will wear a specially designed protective uniform.
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Heavyweight/Lightweight high-visibility blouson jacket badged: "Police Community Support Officer (Traffic)"
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Black fleece, badged "Police Community Support Officer (Traffic)"
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Cambridgeshire Constabulary white uniform shirts.
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Cambridgeshire Constabulary uniform trousers or skirt.
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Blue tie or cravat.
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Blue epaulettes embroidered "Police Community Support Officer" with collar number.
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Cap or bowler, with a blue band. Badge displaying the words "Community Support Officer, Cambridgeshire Constabulary."
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All outer garments will display the word "Traffic" on the chest and on the epaulettes.
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Will they carry any weaponry?
No.
If we can have PCSOs why can't we have more police officers?
The grant provided for the PCSO pilot scheme by the Home Office is ring fenced. This means that it is additional to our normal policing budget but can only be spent on this scheme. If we didn't choose to implement the scheme then we wouldn't be given the funds to spend elsewhere.
Do the PCSOs have powers of arrest?
Yes, that of a normal citizen.
What is the difference between a Police Community Support Officer and a Community Beat Manager?
The Community Beat Manager (CBM) is a fully trained police officer. The PCSOs will provide a supportive role to the CBMs, feeding back vital information from the community and dealing with low level crime, giving the CBM more time to deal with more serious crimes.
What is the difference between a Police Community Support Officer and a Special Constable?
Special Constables are ordinary members of the public who give up their own time to help officers in their regular duties. They have the same powers as a police officer. They can choose their own hours but must be on duty for a minimum number of hours per month. The role is unpaid, but the uniform is provided for free and expenses are paid by the force.
A PSCO will be paid, full-time staff, working in shift patterns. They do not have full police powers, their purpose is to complement and support police officers, enabling police officers to concentrate on more serious crime. |
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