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This page contains press release 44/02, which discusses introduction of Community Support Officers in London.
Warning: This is archived material and may be out of date. The Metropolitan Police Authority has been replaced by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC).
See the MOPC website for further information.
MPA endorses recruitment drive for Community Support Officers in London
44/02
25 April 2002
Today’s meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority paved the way for the introduction of Community Support Officers (CSOs) in London.
A timetable for recruitment of approximately 300 CSOs to be met has been drawn up and an advertising campaign is due to begin in mid-May, subject to funding arrangements being made.
Toby Harris, Chair of the MPA, said:
“We are developing a scheme to recruit and deploy Community Support Officers in London to provide reassurance and reduce fear of crime through a visible uniformed street presence, as demanded by Londoners.
“CSOs will have limited powers and will complement the work of police officers whose time will be freed-up to deal with more serious offences.
“We want our streets to be safer and feel safer. This is a cost effective and efficient way of achieving these aims.”
Ian Blair, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, said:
“It is vitally important that the command and control of uniformed patrols in London remains with the Metropolitan Police and the accountability and standards that this entails.
“CSOs will be dedicated to patrol duties and will be in addition to, not instead of, regular police officers on the streets.”
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