Policing on the cheap
How can people be fooled into thinking that police community support officers deter crime? They have no real powers, yet the Home Office believes this is the answer to their prayers.
Norfolk police have been given an additional £1 million to double the number of their PCSOs to 138 by the end of this year and 189 by next April. They are civilian staff who wear a uniform, but can only issue fixed penalty notices for minor offences, such as littering. They will work alongside proper police to help combat anti-social behaviour. I’m sure their presence will be much appreciated by the elderly and vulnerable, but I wonder if these people realise their limitations, although I am sure our criminals do.
It is nothing other than policing on the cheap – a cardboard cut-out would be just as effective. Kent Police Federation fears they will replace their full-time bobbies; there are plans to recruit nearly 500 PCSOs in Kent over the next two years.
Last month Shadow Home Secretary David Davis accused Labour ministers of playing fast and loose with police funding following reports of a secret plan to axe 25,000 full-time officers and replace them with cheaper civilian community support officers.
“Mr Davis commented after angry Police Federation leader Jan Berry revealed that the Association of Chief Police Officers is set to unveil plans next week to axe 25,000 police officers and replace them with civilian patrol officers – at a time when the country is struggling to contain crime and vandalism. The cuts package – reducing the number of police officers from 141,000 to 116,000 over the next five years.”
I hope he will follow this through and find out at the end of the year if we do start to have fewer police and compare this to the increasing numbers of PCSOs.
Spot on Ellee… you’ve reminded me of something I wrote a few month ago.
The Police Federation in London is against PSCOs and in Bexley (one fo the orginal pilot areas) there are 20 less policemen now than before the project started.
We have the civilian police officers in my part of town but there are unique. They are only Aboriginal, and are used mainly in the city centre, basically this where the Aboriginal population congregate. They are very very successful, this is due to the fact that the Aboriginals feel comfortable dealing with their own and not white community police officers. You are right, these officers have no real powers, but for this specific purpose, for our town they work very well.
Now, as far as what you speak of, i agree whole heartedly. I also think you just need one power hungry nutjob who thinks he can take the role of an actual cop, and then you get even more trouble.
Dizzy, I read your interesting post and I hope David Davis will closely monitor the numbers of declining police officers.
Michelle, I wonder how many Aboriginies have joined the force as fully trained officers.
For some one who considers herself so clever, high up and working for, and with professionals, it’s quite sad to see how demeaing you can be about your police!
Yes, it can create a confusing issue but isn’t it better than not actually having enough Police?
Police numbers are down, so they get held up with serious crimes and can’t attend every bag snatch or littering issue, if having these officers helps to keep your city clean, why should you complain, unless you don’t mind living in a filthy city?
I stumbled on your blog today and was just wondering what you’re actually trying to say or complain about.
BTW: Yes, there are many real Aboriginal coppers in Australia!
Anonymous: I am not demeaning about our police at all, on the contrary. My point quite clearly is that we need more fully trained officers, not substitutes with no powers.
Did you follow up Dizzy’s link from the word “wrote”? It includes a comment which describes how community officers are being terrorised and taunted because young thugs know they can’t be arrested by them.
Let’s wait and see what impact their introduction will have on the number of fully trained police officers and, if there are less as a result, the difference this will make to our crime figures, only time will tell.
Hi there Ellee! Yes, there are a few fully trained police officers. Considering though, that the Indigenous peoples make up only 2% of the Aussie population,in comparison to white officers, it really becomes negligable in the scheme of things.
In saying that though, as Police Liason Officers in my State, there are a quite a lot of them, and they do a brilliant job.
Just in relation to “Anons” comment, i don’t feel you were belittling police in any way.