Police Community Police Community Support OfficersSupport Officers

Their role, Their role, responsibilities and responsibilities and

powerspowers

HistoryHistory

• Identified gap in Neighbourhood Identified gap in Neighbourhood Policing Policing

• Police Reform Act 2002Police Reform Act 2002

• Hampshire recruited 2005Hampshire recruited 2005

• April 2006 first intake for NPTApril 2006 first intake for NPT

ACPO Core ResponsibilitiesACPO Core Responsibilities

1.1. To provide high level of patrols (80%)To provide high level of patrols (80%)

2.2. Prevent crime and anti-social behaviourPrevent crime and anti-social behaviour

3.3. Provide public reassuranceProvide public reassurance

4.4. Reduce the fear of crimeReduce the fear of crime

5.5. Provide a contact point for the publicProvide a contact point for the public

Hampshire Role ProfileHampshire Role Profile• Familiar and visible reassuring presence through Familiar and visible reassuring presence through

foot patrol (80%) and community engagementfoot patrol (80%) and community engagement

• Point of contact for residents and businessesPoint of contact for residents and businesses

• To tackle quality of life issues a member of the To tackle quality of life issues a member of the public may feel is too trivial to speak to a police public may feel is too trivial to speak to a police officer aboutofficer about

• To deal with low level crime and anti-social To deal with low level crime and anti-social behaviour (which does not require investigation) behaviour (which does not require investigation) using a problem solving approachusing a problem solving approach

Deployment strategyDeployment strategy

Strategy formulated in consultation with;Strategy formulated in consultation with;

• Control Room Inspectors and Sergeants,Control Room Inspectors and Sergeants,

• Neighbourhood Policing Project Team, Neighbourhood Policing Project Team,

• Training and Development, Training and Development,

• PCSO Strategic Management Team.PCSO Strategic Management Team.

Detention PowersDetention Powers

• PCSO’s have the power to detain any PCSO’s have the power to detain any person who they reasonably cause to person who they reasonably cause to believe has committed a ‘relevant’ believe has committed a ‘relevant’ offence, and has refused to give their offence, and has refused to give their name and address, or, the authenticity of name and address, or, the authenticity of the name and address is in doubt.the name and address is in doubt.

• 30 minute detention (using reasonable 30 minute detention (using reasonable force if nec.) to await the arrival of a PC.force if nec.) to await the arrival of a PC.

Arrest PowersArrest Powers

• Any person power of arrestAny person power of arrest

Relates to Indictable Offences onlyRelates to Indictable Offences only

• Reasonable cause to suspect person is in the act Reasonable cause to suspect person is in the act of committingof committing

• When I.O. has been committed, R.C.S. person When I.O. has been committed, R.C.S. person committed the offencecommitted the offence

AND there is justification for the arrest (SOCPA)AND there is justification for the arrest (SOCPA)

AND it is not reasonably practicable for a Constable AND it is not reasonably practicable for a Constable to arrest insteadto arrest instead

Further PowersFurther Powers

PCSO’s have a number of other powers PCSO’s have a number of other powers including;including;

• seizing alcohol and tobacco, seizing alcohol and tobacco,

• maintaining cordons during terrorist maintaining cordons during terrorist incidents, and incidents, and

• an array of fixed penalty notice an array of fixed penalty notice offences from dog fouling to offences from dog fouling to fireworks offences.fireworks offences.

Enforcement v Community Enforcement v Community EngagementEngagement

There is a conflict in within the PCSO role profile.There is a conflict in within the PCSO role profile.

PCSO’s are expected to engage with the public and PCSO’s are expected to engage with the public and problem solve. Too much enforcement by a PCSO will problem solve. Too much enforcement by a PCSO will lead to them being isolated from their community. It lead to them being isolated from their community. It is, therefore envisaged that their use of FPN’s etc, is, therefore envisaged that their use of FPN’s etc, will be minimal and only as a last resort.will be minimal and only as a last resort.

PCSO’s have PCSO’s have NO NO PPE. As such involvement in any PPE. As such involvement in any public order incident, or violent situation must be risk public order incident, or violent situation must be risk assessed and should be avoided where possible. assessed and should be avoided where possible.

PCSO SOLAPPCSO SOLAP• Similar to Probationer Constable SOLAP.Similar to Probationer Constable SOLAP.

• Approx. 5 weeks tutoring period.Approx. 5 weeks tutoring period.

• There are 5 PCSO NVQ units in the SOLAP plus There are 5 PCSO NVQ units in the SOLAP plus another 7 non mandatory Police NVQ unitsanother 7 non mandatory Police NVQ units

• Action Plan where necessary.Action Plan where necessary.

• Performance reviews at 6 months and 12 months Performance reviews at 6 months and 12 months to be carried out by line manager. to be carried out by line manager.