BS: Lawful Powers of PCSOs ?

Subject: BS: Lawful Powers of PCSOs ?
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 27 Oct 09 - 08:56 AM

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 ?

Subject: RE: BS: Lawful Powers of PCSOs ?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Oct 09 - 10:13 AM

What are PCSOs?

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Lawful Powers of PCSOs ?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Oct 09 - 10:55 AM

........& furthermore, what's a 'Poice officer'?

Subject: RE: BS: Lawful Powers of PCSOs ?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Oct 09 - 10:58 AM

D'ye maybe mean one o'these?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_Community_Support_Officer

or

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_custody_and_security_officer

Subject: RE: BS: Lawful Powers of PCSOs ?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Oct 09 - 12:49 PM

s I understand it, they have no more authority to arrests than any other civilian making a citizen's arrest.

Their power lies in having a hotline to the police who do have significantly greater authority, and in the fact that if it comes to court the Community Support Officer is likely to be seen as a credible witness.

Which in practice adds up to quite a lot.