I always understood that PCSO's were to deal with the day to day stuff, paperwork, missing dogs, lost bags, that sort of thing - it's certainly the impression that was given when they were first mooted. Only trained police officers would be sent to 'shouts' and PCSO's were to do crowd control stuff.

I have nothing against PCSO's, they do a duty like other, more formally trained officers, but surely the preservation of life should be the over-riding factor in all cases.

I too, feel sorry for these poor officers. Public opinion is against them and they will be hounded for not doing the "right thing", rather than for doing their duty as their superiors decree.

LTS