Is there a way you can remove me from that service?

Thanks a lot!

The post was about PCSO’s in Avon and Somerset not BTP.

Concerns that PCSO’s might be dragged away from their core business to become gap fillers for shortages in response officers make me concerned about current issues rather than being out of the loop.

The reference to BTP was a passing one – their work is very different to other county forces – and was simply included to show that additional powers are a reality for some

If a PCSO sees someone smashing a shop window – what do you really expect them to do? Just stand there and watch saying “I can’t do anything”? Do you really think the law of England/Wales is really that strict?

In this circumstance, the PCSO would have the power of (any person) arrest as he/she has reasonable grounds to suspect an indictable offence (criminal damage) is being carried out. (We’re not going to go down the route of whether they have lawful authority or own the shop right now).They would be able to use reasonable force to do it and this arrest would be same lawful custody as a Police officer or another warranted officer.

Yes there’s no PPE etc. but in that case – why are PCSOs even let out of the station? Why are they given the standard power to seize vehicles and use reasonable force to do it or the power to seize alcohol etc?

The comment about BTP is just plain wrong. They just have really good detention powers and people see the cuffs which is enough to convince them they have some sort of authority. It’s all about people’s perception, which is often visual.

People somehow think that any person arrest isn’t the same or you can only ‘half-arrest’ someone. The difference is that a bobby can arrest for a far wider range of circumstances. It’s as simple as that.

But this perception that PCSOs (and by proxy) the public can’t do anything is the reason why we all stand by and watch people get their skulls fractured or stuff nicked, all because it’s as case of “Well, PCSOs aren’t Police and they can’t arrest, so neither can I”.

If a bloke and his mates went out and actually stopped that drug-user from breaking in to your car instead of watching him do it, then ringing the Police with the non-description of “early 20s, black tracksuit and no direction of travel” then the Police would have a far better chance of catching him, because the public caught him and delivered him into Police custody – therefore, increasing the chance of him going to court.