Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens has officially launched a recruitment campaign to enlist 500 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), helping to turn one element of the Government White Paper ‘Policing A New Century’ into immediate reality.
The new PCSOs will initially be tasked with carrying out security patrols in central London, supporting ‘everyday’ beat police.
Unlike Neighbourhood Wardens, who are generally managed by local authorities, PCSOs will be salaried employees of the Metropolitan Police Service, on a similar pay band (circa GB pound 21,000 per annum) to that of Traffic Wardens. This first wave of PCSOs is to be funded – at least in part – from the GB pound 49 million allocated by the Home Secretary for counter-terrorist operations.
Any powers PCSOs may have are set out in Schedule 4 of the Police Reform Bill which, if they become law, will be bestowed by the Commissioner. In addition to remaining in constant radio contact with the police, powers for the security role could include those laid down by the Terrorism Act 2000 – namely to stop and search suspect vehicles and bags, and enforce security cordons.
PCSOs would also have the power to enter premises under certain emergency conditions.
According to the White Paper, PCSOs will be able to give fixed penalty notices for disorder, litter and cycling offences. They will also have the power to request someone’s name and address in respect of their fixed penalty notice powers, and where an individual is behaving in an anti-social manner (ie causing alarm or distress).
Speaking at the initiative’s launch at New Scotland Yard, Sir John Stevens said: “Employing Police Community Support Officers will mean that regular officers can spend more time tackling crime and dealing with emergencies – without losing the vital intelligence we need to glean from the public to help us catch and prosecute criminals.”
