‘Blunkett’s bobbies' to be given powers of detention by Home Secretary
Jacqui Smith

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 1:50 AM on 29th November 2008

Police community support officers

Added duties: PCSOs are set to be boosted with new powers

The so-called 'Blunkett's bobbies' will be given extended powers,
including being able to detain suspects, under plans unveiled
yesterday.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith wants to give police community support
officers (PCSOs) the power to hold a criminal until a police officer
arrives, impose fines for graffiti and disperse troublemakers.

The proposals alarm critics who believe that PCSOs – also dubbed
plastic police – have been brought in to provide policing on the
cheap.

The current powers of PCSOs, who were introduced by then Home
Secretary David Blunkett in 2002, include seizing drugs and issuing
fines for a small number of offences.

The Home Secretary's plans were published yesterday in the Policing
Green Paper. A final decision will be made in the New Year.

Public confidence in the police has been only marginally improved by
the introduction of neighbourhood policing despite a £1billion
investment, a report reveals.

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary found that only 15 forces had
experienced a 'significant increase' in confidence while the remaining
28 had seen no real improvement.

Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation, which represents
rank and file officers, said: 'We remain concerned that the government
is still looking to give greater powers to CSOs despite the increasing
attacks on those policing the frontline and the huge difference in
training, equipment and experience between a police officer and a CSO.

'To replace police officers with CSOs may be just a cost cutting
exercise for the government but it is imperative for public safety and
security that police officers remain at the heart of policing
communities.'

Mr McKeever also criticised the Home Office decision to introduce
directly-elected police authorities, causing fear that the BNP will
win seats in certain areas.

He said: 'It is unfortunate that the government so readily dismisses
our view, shared by the Association of Police Authorities and the
Local Government Association, that the concept of directly elected
commissioners is likely to increase politicisation of policing and
open the doors to extremists determining operational policing
decisions locally.

'This is not good for an apolitical independent police service and the
money this would cost to implement could be better spent building upon
the current structures to encourage local involvement.

'The move to increase political control of policing is compounded
further by plans to move senior officer appointments and chief officer
appraisals from the HMIC to the Home Office; a tactical move that
should ensure those tasked with leading the police service do not step
out of line with the wishes of their political masters.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...qui-Smith.html

WM
www.critest.com

Webmanager_CritEst wrote:

‘Blunkett’s bobbies' to be given powers of detention by Home Secretary
Jacqui Smith


Their dream of a police state is hampered by the cost of enough police to
man it. The solution - create a horde of cheaper plastic policemen with
powers sufficient for control of the population.

--

On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 05:50:11 -0800, Webmanager_CritEst wrote:

‘Blunkett’s bobbies' to be given powers of detention by Home Secretary
Jacqui Smith

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 1:50 AM on 29th November 2008


snip

This "function creep" or "salami slice" methodology - I'll bet it is
planned from the start.

--
___ _______ ___ ___ ___ __ ____
/ _ \/ __/ _ | / _ \ / _ \/ _ |/ / / / /
/ // / _// __ |/ // / / ___/ __ / /_/ / /__
/____/___/_/ |_/____/ /_/ /_/ |_\____/____/

Webmanager_CritEst wrote:

‘Blunkett’s bobbies' to be given powers of detention by Home Secretary
Jacqui Smith

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 1:50 AM on 29th November 2008

Police community support officers

Added duties: PCSOs are set to be boosted with new powers

The so-called 'Blunkett's bobbies' will be given extended powers,
including being able to detain suspects, under plans unveiled
yesterday.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith wants to give police community support
officers (PCSOs) the power to hold a criminal until a police officer
arrives, impose fines for graffiti and disperse troublemakers.

The proposals alarm critics who believe that PCSOs – also dubbed
plastic police – have been brought in to provide policing on the
cheap.

The current powers of PCSOs, who were introduced by then Home
Secretary David Blunkett in 2002, include seizing drugs and issuing
fines for a small number of offences.

The Home Secretary's plans were published yesterday in the Policing
Green Paper. A final decision will be made in the New Year.

Public confidence in the police has been only marginally improved by
the introduction of neighbourhood policing despite a £1billion
investment, a report reveals.

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary found that only 15 forces had
experienced a 'significant increase' in confidence while the remaining
28 had seen no real improvement.

Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation, which represents
rank and file officers, said: 'We remain concerned that the government
is still looking to give greater powers to CSOs despite the increasing
attacks on those policing the frontline and the huge difference in
training, equipment and experience between a police officer and a CSO.

'To replace police officers with CSOs may be just a cost cutting
exercise for the government but it is imperative for public safety and
security that police officers remain at the heart of policing
communities.'

Mr McKeever also criticised the Home Office decision to introduce
directly-elected police authorities, causing fear that the BNP will
win seats in certain areas.

He said: 'It is unfortunate that the government so readily dismisses
our view, shared by the Association of Police Authorities and the
Local Government Association, that the concept of directly elected
commissioners is likely to increase politicisation of policing and
open the doors to extremists determining operational policing
decisions locally.

'This is not good for an apolitical independent police service and the
money this would cost to implement could be better spent building upon
the current structures to encourage local involvement.

'The move to increase political control of policing is compounded
further by plans to move senior officer appointments and chief officer
appraisals from the HMIC to the Home Office; a tactical move that
should ensure those tasked with leading the police service do not step
out of line with the wishes of their political masters.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...qui-Smith.html

WM
www.critest.com

For all intents and purposes, they will become the 'Police'. I saw one today;
the only clue was a label "Police staff" on his jacket, not even a badge.
Hard to tell exactly what he was and what powers he had. Even harder to keep
up with rules and regulations for all those new positions. Most people will
probably play safe and assume that he has powers to do what he does...

Dead Paul wrote:

On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 05:50:11 -0800, Webmanager_CritEst wrote:

‘Blunkett’s bobbies' to be given powers of detention by Home Secretary
Jacqui Smith

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 1:50 AM on 29th November 2008


snip

This "function creep" or "salami slice" methodology - I'll bet it is
planned from the start.

Aye. I wondered, when they said "tazers for front-line officers", if
they meant PCSOs.


--
Sleepalot aa #1385