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Army of civilians in Northants with police powers



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Published Date: 28 August 2008
By Staff Copy
An army of civilians has been working as part of an "extended police family" in Northamptonshire, with the power to demand names and addresses, issue fines and confiscate alcohol from youngsters.
Northamptonshire Police confirmed yesterday that it was working closely with borough councils in the county to provide hundreds of staff, who have no officer training, under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS).

The Home Office revealed this week that the number of CSAS staff in the country had increased from only 950 in 2006 to more than 1,600 but a spokeswoman for Northamptonshire Police said the scheme included Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).

She said: "CSAS is about smart partnership working, where groups of people and individuals are the eyes and ears within community life. Our 'extended police family' is made up of PCSOs, Specials, local authorities, and other partner agencies.

"They rarely rely on their designated police powers to do their work, as many of the powers the police can designate are in fact powers they have anyway as council employees, for example, issuing fixed penalty notices for littering and dog fouling . . . problems that members of the community get very annoyed about and constitute one of the biggest areas of complaint about their neighbourhoods."

A total of four organisations, including three district councils and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) work under the scheme in Northamptonshire, with 57 accredited CSAS staff in the county, in addition to more than 150 PCSOs.

The spokeswoman added: "People have the right to enjoy their neighbourhood and the extended police family helps to make communities nicer places for residents to live and people to visit."

Councillor Trini Crake (Lib Dem, Boughton Green), Northampton Borough Council's cabinet member for the environment, said CSAS wardens had been in place since 2005.

She added: "Our wardens work very closely with the Safer Stronger Northampton Partnership and the enforcement powers are only used where appropriate.

"If our wardens help us achieve these aims this will result in keeping our town safer and cleaner. The council will continue to use Neighbourhood Wardens to assist in the community to help deal with local issues."

The full article contains 366 words and appears in Northampton Chron & Echo newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 28 August 2008 8:53 AM
  • Source: Northampton Chron & Echo
  • Location: Northampton
 
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Paul CD,

Rushden 28/08/2008 10:52:09
Wrap it up however you like Orwell was only out by a few years, your Big Labouring Brother is here and democracy is a thing of the past under this surveillance government. Uncle Joe would be very pleased.
2

Roger Mellie,

Northampton 28/08/2008 13:40:41
They demand my address for some reason, and me being a big cantankerous old sort refuse? Then what? A waste of our tax revenue if ever there was.
3

Good Time Gal,

In ze bunker. 28/08/2008 14:08:35
Am I alone in thinking that this Volk Polizei Waffen is comprised of failed shopping mall security guards and assorted Mr Jobsworths ?

4

Blackjohn,

feeling the power 28/08/2008 16:12:06
The difference being the the Waffen had a fine uniform, where as these boys will be all polyester ties, crimpolene trousers and battered clipboards. However they deserve our respect on the frontline and I will respect their authority
5

robert angus,

28/08/2008 16:18:46
If I was asked by somebody for my name and address I would require proof of who I was talking to and why.There are a lot of little Hitlers ot there.
I have somebody along the road from me who screams at evey car that passes is going over a 20 mile speed limit.
6

Fullingdale,

Northampton 28/08/2008 16:29:36
The areas that they're looking at (dog fouling, underage drinking, littering, etc) are indeed valid, but I don't really agree with the approach they're using to tackle this.

The BBC covered this on their Breakfast show this morning and a guy from the liberty group quite rightly noted that the people involved with this do not have the training that the police do, not just knowing what is or is not an offence but also on how to handle a member of the public who may get upset, angry, etc., when confronted ... and also that a majority of these people are not accountable to the state and thereby it would be very difficult to make a complaint against them, should you feel the need.

Do they have the power to arrest? If not, then as Roger said, what if I refuse to give my details?

This reads to me as if it were a "pilot scheme being trialled in Northampton" ... in which case, doesn't the government think that they've done enough to our town already?!?!?!
7

Shelts,

28/08/2008 17:02:34
The article is quite misleading as it includes PCSO's and Specials. Specials obviously can arrest, PCSO's can detail and ask your details, if u refuse it's an arrestable offence. However as far as i am aware the other people are all council employees and do not have detention or arrestable powers.
8

Roger Mellie,

Northampton 28/08/2008 17:19:01
Shelts, *any* person has a power of arrest with respect to more serious, or indictable offences. Thats what worries me its the thin end of the wedge with regards to what duties these folks will be asked to do.

And whats an oh-so-scary(not!) PCSO gonna do to all 6'5" and 18 1/2 stone of me if I refuse to give my details? Beat me with their non existant big stick? spray me with their non-existant CS gas? Restrain me with their non existant handcuffs?
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Shelts,

28/08/2008 17:23:29
No, they would call up on their radio and get a pc out to them. Chances are they would have already done so before it got to the situation u are speaking of and an officer would be on their way. A pcso wouldn't be expected to restrain that person themselves, they also wouldn't be sent to an incident where it is expected that someone would need arresting. As i said, not giving your details if legally required by a pcso is an arrestable offence.
10

Good Time Gal,

Fulminating. 28/08/2008 17:53:43
Roger Mellie,

I have seen you on the telly and you didn't look all that big to me.

As a hard hitting journalist you should know that the spelling should be 'existent'.

However, the way you dealt with 'Tarbie', 'Brucie' and the rest of the Pringalists was superb.

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