PCSO powers

Report: 12
Date: 5 March 2009
By: Acting Deputy Commissioner, Territorial Operations, on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

This report details how the core principles for Police Community Support Officers (PCSO), as set out in the Green paper – ‘From Neighbourhood to the National: Policing our communities together’, have impacted on PCSOs in the MPS and also identifies key issues relating to any changes to PCSO powers including any cost implications.

A. Recommendation

That members note the report.

B. Supporting information

Core principles for PCSOs

1. The Home Office in partnership with the Association of Chief Police officers (ACPO) and the Association of Police Authorities (APA) have agreed to a number of core principles for PCSOs in that they will:

•  Undertake public facing non confrontational duties in uniform;
•  Be visible in the communities on foot or cycle patrol (vehicle if rural community);
•  Deal with anti-social behaviour, low-level crime and incidents, local problems/priorities and quality of life issues;
•  Support and improve service to victims and vulnerable people; and
•  Conduct engagement and problem solving activity.

2. This followed a national review of PCSOs by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) on behalf of the Home office, ACPO and the APA. The Home Office also took into consideration the recommendations outlined in ‘Engaging Communities in Fighting Crime’ review by Louise Casey. These principles were further outlined in the Governments green paper - ‘From Neighbourhood to the National: Policing our communities together’.

3. PCSOs provide an enhanced uniformed presence across London, dedicated to public reassurance. They are a key part to the delivery of safer Neighbourhoods in the way they provide visible, accessible and familiar community engagement, yet also support front line policing in non-confrontational roles.

4. As of 31 December 2008 there are currently 4345 PCSOs employed by the MPS, of which 31% are from BME communities and 35% are female.

5. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) deploys PCSOs in the following roles:

• Safer Neighbourhoods
•  Safer transport
•  Safer parks
•  Safer airports
•  Security
•  Transport
•  Station
•  Victim

6. All MPS PCSOs meet aspects of these principles to a greater or lesser degree, dependent upon their role. For instance, those engaged in Safer Neighbourhoods, transport, parks and airport all receive additional training from a dedicated neighbourhood policing training unit, which delivers bespoke training to PCSOs covering the seven–step engagement model with local communities and problem solving. As of December 2008, 872 Ward priorities related to some form of anti-social behaviour and PCSOs will be at the forefront of tackling these issues.

7. All roles are in uniform and provide reassurance to communities, even those in the Station and Victim roles that the MPS introduced to encompass a more Citizen Focus approach in the delivery of police services. Both roles combine an element of patrol as well as the delivery of police services. The role of Victim PCSO is to support victims of crime within communities and, since their introduction, on-going contact with Victims of crime has risen from 19% in April 2007 to 79% by November 2008.

8. To date, the MPS has not had to change or amend the role or duties of any of their PCSOs, which are constantly evolving to meet the needs of London’s communities.

Changes to PCSO powers

9. The green paper also refers to a review of PCSO powers by the Home Office who are currently in the process of evaluating the PCSO powers to establish which powers are actually being used. As of December 2007 all PCSOs have been designated a set of 20 standard powers, with a further 22 powers available to them at the discretion of the Chief Constable. Louise Casey’s review outlined that for some members of the public there remains a degree of confusion about what powers PCSOs have available to them and recommended an increase in standardising PCSO powers in England And Wales. Namely, her report makes the proposal that the following powers are added to the standard set of PCSO powers.

•  Power to detain
•  Power to issue a penalty notice for disorder

Cost implications

10. The MPS designated these powers to our PCSOs when they were first introduced in 2002. All MPS PCSOs receive training in the use of these powers during their initial foundation training and in view of that, if this proposal was adopted by the Home Office, it would not have any further cost or training implications.

Assessment of risks, benefits and impact on the MPS

11. These specific powers are at the cusp of what the MPS can expect from PCSOs without introducing further control measures such as enhanced personal protective equipment. They are also qualified by policy.

12. For instance, the power to detain can be used if a PCSO exercises a power for an offence that he is designated to enforce. If the offender refuses to give his name and/or address or gives what is considered a false name and/or address, he may be detained for a period of 30 minutes pending the arrival of a Constable.

13. Policy stipulates that when PCSOs are dealing with members of the public and they have reason to detain that person, the PCSO should first call for police assistance and then inform the person that they are being detained. The PCSOs should then either wait for police assistance or escort the detained person to a nearby police station. Whilst confrontation is possible, overt physical intervention should be avoided. PCSOs should utilise their conflict resolution and officer safety training.

14. Finally, if physical intervention is necessary then their actions should be confined to placing a hand on the individual to indicate they are detained. These control measures should enable a PCSO to withdraw should the offender become violent. Between April and December 2008 the power of detention was exercised by PCSOs in London on 8073 occasions.

15. Similarly, prior to issuing a penalty notice for disorder, policy states that PCSOs should inform a supervisor before the issue of any penalty notice and seek authority for the continued course of action. By doing so, supervisors can deploy Constables to the PCSO if considered necessary.

16. Whilst the role of PCSOs is primarily engagement over enforcement, in order to deal with anti-social behaviour and low-level crime, PCSOs do need to be empowered with such offences in order to be effective and increase their impact within their local communities.

17. Between April and December 2008 MPS PCSOs have issued 1455 penalty notices, 931 of which were for disorder.

Other information

18. The Commissioner has designated MPS PCSOs with additional powers over and above the agreed standard set which not only reflect the policing needs of the capital but also maintains the community engagement principles that underpin PCSO deployment: visibility, accessibility and familiarity. The Commissioner would not extend fresh powers to PCSOs without the specific consent of the MPA.

19. The Chairs of ACPO and the APA wrote a joint letter to the Home secretary in December 2008 arguing that the responsibility for any increase in PCSO powers should be left to local forces, to retain flexibility and take into account the views of the communities they serve.

20. These sentiments are echoed by the MPS who currently have no desire to increase the use of any powers for the following reasons:

•  PCSOs core role is one of engagement over enforcement
•  Any increase in powers could lead to further confusion of the public and the blurring of roles between PCSOs and fully sworn officers
•  Further powers would increase admin burden and lead to increased abstractions from patrol.
•  Likelihood of enhanced personal protective equipment

21. For those reasons the MPS is currently satisfied that the powers, which include a number targeting low-level anti-social behaviour, are commensurate with the role of an MPS PCSO.

C. Legal implications

The legal impact is likely to be minimal in view of the fact that the legislative provisions already provide for PCSOs to exercise the additional powers proposed, in compliance with the statutory provisions. The necessary risk assessments have also been conducted.

D. Race and equality impact

There are no equality/diversity implications arising from the report.

E. Financial implications

There are no financial implications arising from this report.

F. Background papers

None

G. Contact details

Report author: Rod Jarman, MPS

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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