I suppose this thread is started because of the current thread "UK : Police State ?".

Although I am a Lawyer of not a few years' standing, Criminal Law is not a forte of mine.

I know to ask even a uniformed Poice officer for a sight of his or her warrant card (there might be a local production of "The Pirates of Penzance " - you never know).

However : can anyone please tell me : what are the powers of arrest and detention with which the Territorial scuffers - sorry ! PCSOs are vested ?