Community Police Officers (CPO)

[Kev]

I don't know whether these have any impact on local communities but I can't help giggle when I see them walking together with their uniforms with a hint of blue.

Every day I see at least 4 from the drive from the top of Lodge Lane to the bottom going about their business.

Yet the long drive along Aigburth Rd, you don't see any.

What's your experience of them?

[SteH]

Do you want to become one Kev, here's how.

[Kev]

No chance mate

[lindylou]

They are a common sight around Anfield. They are always walking around here.
The local asbos goad them.

[SteH]

Joking aside, you see them all over the place and they seem to have replaced the regular beat bobbies who now cruise round in patrol cars. Thats all very well if they can be effective, but they have no power of arrest and once the local local scallies get wind of that their lives must be hell.

[Kev]

Its funny how their faces just don't seem to fit in to the local areas they are put in.

[iain]

Although they've not got powers of arrest, they free up the time of the "real" police to go and arrest the scallies, by taking on the "community support" role (does exactly what it says on the tin ), making and maintaining links with people and businesses (saw some in Tesco tonight), doing talks, visiting schools, rescuing-the-cat-from-the-tree kind of stuff. They can deal with minor things, like dropping litter, by way of fixed penalties too.

Unfortunately cos they're not sent intentionally to confrontational situations (they're left to the constables) they're not always as fully equipped when it comes to body armour, but to a scally who hates the police, CSO or Constable makes no difference...

[WilliamBrown]

Ah! times change. In bygone days the local beat copper was also the community copper. (See an article in Scottie Press, St Josephs Parish). No armour - just a baton and whistle. Baton never used - or hardly ever. They knew their local people (scallies or otherwise - and the otherwise meant the really great people of the Pool - mostly the poor). Local coppers all had nicknames. When a copper was in trouble - many locals would phone for help from the nearest red telephone box, and even sometimes pitch in. Coppers walked the beat "as laid down" - going through a strict routine to be where they were supposed to be at any given time. This was for their saftey: no radio and quick call for 'back-up'. Only at night could you hear the THREE WHISTLE BLASTS from a copper in trouble. Community Policing -not a new idea. I'm surpised to hear of their limited powers. The old Special Constable had, at least a power of arrest. Although it was often a pain in the neck. No intent to disparage the contribution of the Specials in the Pool.

[Kev]

Has anyone had any thoughts on the two CPOs that left a drowing child to die because they 'hadn't been trained' in water rescue?

[John(Zappa)]

Hobby Bobbies need to go.Useless man hours doing useless things.They may look nice walking round but they do nothing!!!!
Useless.The kids love taking the urine outta them.
More money being wasted.

[Kev]

CSO Powers include:

:: Power to issue penalty notices in respect of offences of disorder

:: Power to issue fixed penalty notices for truancy

:: Power to issue fixed penalty notices for cycling on a footpath

:: Power to issue fixed penalty notices for dog fouling

:: Power to issue fixed penalty notices for graffiti and fly-posting

:: Power to require name and address for anti-social behaviour

:: Power to detain

:: Power to use reasonable force to prevent a detained person making off

:: Power to enter and search any premises for the purposes of saving life and limb or preventing serious damage to property.

Yet they seem bound completely by procedure even when faced with someone drowning, why put themselves at risk eh for 16k a year?

[steveb]

Well, I see them walking around, more of a deterant I think.
Unlike specials they have very limited powers, as for Blunket
condeming the actions of the 2 who didn't jump in and try
and save the lad, he introduced them so he is really saying
" Oh I made a mistake", also suppose the 2 PCSO,s couldn't
swim ?. Instead of the lad drowning it could have been 3.
Wonder how many real police officers whould have jumped in ?
with all the gear they wear they would have sunk like a brick

[Cadfael]

There is a difference though isn't there. You have the PCSO's and the Specials. Don't the specials give up their own time and not get paid to patrol?

[Libertarian]

The parents were very quick to blame the cppo's but where were they?

Did they know were their kids where and how many parents do know where their kids are or what they are up to before shuffling the blame on to others.

[steveb]

There is a difference though isn't there. You have the PCSO's and the Specials. Don't the specials give up their own time and not get paid to patrol?

Yes they do and get issued with a warrent card, and correct me if I,m
wrong, have power of arrest. It dosn't really matter who was about
Real bobby, PCSO, special or member of the public, what stopped anyone
else jumping in ?. As far as I,m aware members of the emergency services
are told not to endanger their own life, allthough most would.