Comments for onthebeat101

Comment on GUEST POST- PCSO Powers: The Sergeant’s View by Paul

Paul — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 21:36:34 +0000

Yes we were involved, although I was on weekend leave, but I came into town, and funnily enough all the PCs I saw were from county forces, not the Met, and they didn’t look particularly happy. My PCSO colleagues that were on duty looked cheerful enough.

I am currently on Olympic Aid which is thankfully nearly finished. I have walked and walked and walked, whilst the PCs are all being driven around in carriers. I have seen convoys of 3 of them pass me with officers reading papers and books, whilst I’m trudging the streets. This is all so one-sided, again the blue shirt/white shirt divide shows it’s ugly face.

Comment on Met PCSO oversubscription rising with unemployment rates by Paul

Paul — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 10:34:34 +0000

Doesn’t mean that everyone will be suitable. Not everyone is you know? They opened up recruitment again though, and they said they wouldn’t do it until next year. Don’t know why, maybe not enough people passed their day 1 the first time round. The recruitment closes today (15th June). I know one person who has just heard that she past her day 1 and is waiting for her day 2 in a couple of weeks. Newbies are destined to be out on the streets August or September, not in time for the Olympics.

Comment on GUEST POST- PCSO Powers: The Sergeant’s View by Anon

Anon — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:50:53 +0000

A ‘yes’ man or woman in the making right there!

Comment on GUEST POST- PCSO Powers: The Sergeant’s View by Anon

Anon — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:46:37 +0000

Thanks. I don’t know whether your force has been involved in the olympic torch relay or not yet, but seeing some of the miserable and grumpy faces of some of the Met bobbies driving/riding/jogging past makes me think THAT’S what makes them unapproachable and distant from the community. It’s the “I don’t want to be here” (which is clearly visible) and the superior attitude when they go to jobs and end up locking up the victim for D&D because they’re annoyed their assailant hasn’t been arrested yet and they’re standing around doing nothing for example.

Comment on GUEST POST- PCSO Powers: The Sergeant’s View by Paul

Paul — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 20:27:14 +0000

My point exactly – well said that man/woman!

Comment on GUEST POST- PCSO Powers: The Sergeant’s View by Anon

Anon — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 22:51:28 +0000

BTP and NWP both have handcuffs, search powers and reasonable force for their PCSOs and they are still approachable. Also, it’s nothing to do with the kit an officer does or doesn’t have on their belt, it’s their people skills. Bobbies are unapproachable because many have the people skills of a serial killer, so the powers that be have forgotten this important fact and have put it down to their kit. Also, more powers means more complaints, possible payouts and people getting locked up (recorded crime) – all of which the brass doesn’t want. It all comes back to class divisions and snobbery – PCSOs are the underclass and bobbies are the almighty.

Comment on GUEST POST- PCSO Powers: The Sergeant’s View by Paul

Paul — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 19:14:11 +0000

I already detain people using reasonable force, on many occasions restraint techniques which we are taught in OST have been used, and on odd occasions on the floor! I don’t agree that it would erode the role at all, just make the evolving role more effective.

Comment on GUEST POST- PCSO Powers: The Sergeant’s View by DAVE

DAVE — Wed, 30 May 2012 08:47:47 +0000

The power of stop and search allows you to detain a person using reasonable force in order to conduct that search, this would then take us in to the realm of potentially handcuffing and using other restraint techniques. This would then erode the role further, require extra training and equipment and but that barrier up with the community, making a PCSO less approachable…

Comment on Met PCSO oversubscription rising with unemployment rates by Al

Al — Sun, 27 May 2012 14:15:56 +0000

My force has just put in the PLC course the first people are going through now.
Does anyone else see this as a con, now I realise they have lost £54m and I sympathise with our chief that is not something I could get my head around. But to do this thing I will have to pay £250 to do work books in my own time NOT job time impossible as I have a baby at home and I do flexi time in order to care for him and all that does will get me a foot in the door as I would still have to pass all of the tests they put down. Would it not make sense to have a grading system of the job role of pc so the pcso’a who would like to become a pc could then become a grade 3 pc with limitations on power for the sake of conversation. Then once boxes are ticked become grade 2 with more power and so on during which time you will have a mentor pc and work books to complete.
One other thing I managed to detain a burglar a while ago until he was arrested a shoret while later, while I had a commendation it was a bit bitter sweet as I was told “that’s not your job” now perhaps I’ve missed something but in the pneumonic FABBAPCSO did the last letter not say offence causing loss or damage to property. Now I think about it beak into a house, damage. Nick the stuff belonging to the people who own it causing loss of said property back to that letter O again did I miss anything?

Comment on Home Office failing to answer PCSOs by onthebeat101

onthebeat101 — Sun, 27 May 2012 14:12:07 +0000

Hello Arthur ASCII,

The photo was to illustrate the strong feeling of discontent within the policing community, and the anger many in all ranks of the police service feel at the Home Office at the moment.

We are of course aware that PCSOs are not police officers and not represented by the Police Federation – but thank you for clarifying that for readers who might not have known!

Comment on GUEST POST- PCSO Powers: The Sergeant’s View by Paul

Paul — Sat, 26 May 2012 08:10:38 +0000

The reason you hear ‘can we please have an officer to deal” is because of the lack of powers, especially search powers. We only need to call an officer if we need something done that an out of date power set doesn’t allow us to do.

Comment on Home Office failing to answer PCSOs by Arthur ASCII

Arthur ASCII — Wed, 23 May 2012 05:21:45 +0000

Why the photo of Police Officers protesting?

Couldn’t you find one showing Unison or PCS Police Staff?

PCSOs are NOT Police Officers and are represented by Unison or PCS unions. The Police Federation continue to ignore the existence of Police Staff, without whom they would be unable to function.