On posing the questions ‘what do you think of the police community support officers?’ and ‘What do you think they are for?’ I was very surprised to find that many people from the local community, especially the youth, did not have a ‘clue on what they do’ many of them asking ‘who are they?’. Adults however, where much more informed being able to piece out that the community police officers are officers in the community. However, many did not know what powers the community officers (PCSO’s) have by law.

I set out to find more about our PCSO’s by a using a quick Google search(later confirming with an officer) with a glimpse you find that they are in fact officers there to support the police. They are not replacements but rather ‘there to address...tasks that do not require the experience or powers held by the police’ meaning a shorter training time but they are trained enough to deal with tasks that ‘often take officers away from more appropriate duties’. Consequently, the question is why not just employ more constables? This is simply because the government wants to provide ‘a more visible and accessible uniformed patrol presence... to tackle the quality of life issues’ these are the issues that ‘do not require the powers or experience’ of police officers.

However, what are the issues that ‘affect the quality of life’ these can range from ‘antisocial behaviour’ to ‘fear of crime’ to ‘environmental issues’. To tackle these issues they would, for example, report vandalism or suspicious activities and visit the victims of crime. This means that they work in a range of places that ‘may be experiencing a particular problem’.

However, what powers do they actually have? To start with they can issue fixed penalties, ask for your name and address if you have committed an offence, confiscate alcohol and tobacco from underage users, confiscate drugs and even stop and search a person or a property under the supervisation and authorisation of a police officer. It seems as though they actually have many powers as well as more transport related powers like controlling traffic, removing abandoned vehicles or placing traffic signs. Nevertheless, they have even more additional powers that can only be used with assignment from a chief constable or commissioner, for example detaining and using force. Obviously, they have a lot of powers in the community ‘the majority of the capital’s 4500 PCSOs have over 30 powers to call upon whilst on patrol’. Surely, people should know who they are, moreover, the real question should be how effective are they and what do you think of them?