The post you are reporting:
obviously i have an interest in the outcome but can give it to you as i see it?
Since pcso's came in i can speak for folkestone area im in
the community are saying at public meetings, and when i meet them, that not only will they fight to retain them but also they feel pcso's are valued in the community.
PCSO's are an ADDITION to police officers, and to understand the role is required before making judgements.
I cannot speak for River but can speak where PCSO's have been established in schools in folkestone, welcomed by the schools, welcomed by the community.
The presense of PCSO's is reassuring to the public.
On the role itself, I have concentrated doing as Sue has indicated, talking to youth clubs, age concern, ghurka regiment, young, not so young, pre school, scouts, guides, st johns ambulance plus many many more
oh yes and local business's
The police do a grand job, but do not have the time to spend on cases and thats where we come in, talking to the community, reassuring the community, getting respect from the community.
I know listening to the feedbck i get in folkestone that iv gained that respect over my 2 years serving that area.
It has been hard at times, because has meant befriending even those that hate society and the police.
But I HAVE stuck at it, and i can give you 2 very good examples why PCSO's should remain and im sure there are many many more.
1' All the police were out in force looking for a missing 13 year old
a girl(who hates uniform ) came up to me to ask if i was looking for someone
i said yes a boy, she said hes in that house, i aint told yer and ran off
SO WHY DID SHE TELL ME AND NOT THE POLICE???
BECAUSE i have spent 2 years talking to her(as no one else has ) she feels at least i listen to her, and after the 2 years she now speaks every day to me
2; Another incident big fight had taken place loads of police loads of cars
a load of us pcso's went and the kids present all came to me and other PCSO
to tell us what had happened.
The police had been there for 20 mins getting no info.
Even the police commented how come they know your -name, how come they talk to you.
told them cos we spend time talking to them, explaining what effect they have on community at times, its a mutual respect, more importantly it works!!!
The ex U2 drummer you m,ay have heard robbed a bank in folk
who chased and caught him? yep a PCSO
wHO IS IT in comunities the public ring first, in folkestone its pcso's
The new set up (neighbourhood policing) brings together and encourages PC's and PCSO going out together, and where i work i have a very active PC and to that end things realy work and people see and even bigger presense.
Anyway enough on wot they do cant mustnt go on to long
LETS TALK ABOUT THE POWERS
These are limited but for good reason, I don;t want to become a cheap policeman by being given the powers of a policeman, also the roles are very diffrent, and if PCSO's were to be given to many powers they would no longer have the respect built up with the young over the past 2 years or so
So feel power of arrest
and power to search
are 2 that i would go with the rest i need more convincing on.
NOW TO THE FUTURE
well i have sent -3 letters to the shadow home office minister on the PCSO role and his view and got 3 diffrent replies!!
first one said i have no intention of making any changes
second one said iv heard gd and bad so wont rule out disbanding them
third one said he will leave it all to chief constables to =decide
so i still dont know his true intentions!!!!!
All i can say is the 18 PCSO's are respected in folkestone and there would outcry should they be removed.
COST
Even if the tories decided(if the were in govt) to do away with the role
the police are facing cutbacks up to 20%
there is no dosh for redundancy, and the govt will be slashing public spending so wont be providing money for that which the bill for redundancy will run into millions across country.
So theres my small imput, you will realise like my council role i dont like to do things less than 100% and im passionate PCSO' have a role to play and always will
Of course with the tories wanting to slash public spending this will mean LESS
chance of any more police being put in place SUE not more.
