A new layer UNDER the PCSO
Discussion
"COUNCIL workers across Suffolk could soon be armed with new police-style powers to issue fixed penalty notices to those committing anti-social behaviour.
The county council's cabinet committee is being asked to support the take-up of the National Community Safety Accreditation Scheme, which enables chief police officers to accredit council employees with a limited range of powers to deal with public nuisance offences.
These include dog fouling, graffiti, cycling on the pavement, fly-posting, begging and litter.
The proposals are part of the Community Warden Scheme, which has seen the introduction of various types of wardens across the county to make Suffolk's streets safer.
Trading standards officers and environmental rangers are among those likely to be given the new powers.
If the idea is agreed by cabinet, it is likely the first employees will begin formal training by the police in the autumn.
As well as clamping down on problems which cause misery to communities, the council hopes the new scheme will free up police time to deal with more serious crime.
Joanna Spicer, portfolio holder for public protection, said: “What's behind it is a real determination to make a difference.
“It's not a cheap form of policing, it's so that local authorities can work with the police to address the key issues that people worry about. We are all in this together.
“People want their neighbourhoods to be clean and tidy. Many people would prefer the police to be dealing with serious criminality and leaving the extended police family like wardens to tackle the low-level stuff.”
Mrs Spicer added: “At the moment, various wardens in Suffolk such as park or house wardens have no statutory enforcement powers.
“Often these people feel quite frustrated because all they can do is get cross with people, they cannot say: 'Stop it otherwise I will issue you with a ticket'.
“We will get accreditation arrangements started very quickly. We should be able to start training in the autumn.”
It is not known at this stage how many council workers will be handed the powers.
Each district council would put members of staff forward for the scheme.
The initial police training costs have been estimated at £5,000 per 20 officers but Mrs Spicer said money had already been set aside in the budget to help get the initiative underway, if it was agreed by the cabinet."
The county council's cabinet committee is being asked to support the take-up of the National Community Safety Accreditation Scheme, which enables chief police officers to accredit council employees with a limited range of powers to deal with public nuisance offences.
These include dog fouling, graffiti, cycling on the pavement, fly-posting, begging and litter.
The proposals are part of the Community Warden Scheme, which has seen the introduction of various types of wardens across the county to make Suffolk's streets safer.
Trading standards officers and environmental rangers are among those likely to be given the new powers.
If the idea is agreed by cabinet, it is likely the first employees will begin formal training by the police in the autumn.
As well as clamping down on problems which cause misery to communities, the council hopes the new scheme will free up police time to deal with more serious crime.
Joanna Spicer, portfolio holder for public protection, said: “What's behind it is a real determination to make a difference.
“It's not a cheap form of policing, it's so that local authorities can work with the police to address the key issues that people worry about. We are all in this together.
“People want their neighbourhoods to be clean and tidy. Many people would prefer the police to be dealing with serious criminality and leaving the extended police family like wardens to tackle the low-level stuff.”
Mrs Spicer added: “At the moment, various wardens in Suffolk such as park or house wardens have no statutory enforcement powers.
“Often these people feel quite frustrated because all they can do is get cross with people, they cannot say: 'Stop it otherwise I will issue you with a ticket'.
“We will get accreditation arrangements started very quickly. We should be able to start training in the autumn.”
It is not known at this stage how many council workers will be handed the powers.
Each district council would put members of staff forward for the scheme.
The initial police training costs have been estimated at £5,000 per 20 officers but Mrs Spicer said money had already been set aside in the budget to help get the initiative underway, if it was agreed by the cabinet."
aw51 121565 said:
Bolton has this for dog fouling, and for dogs not on leads on A and B roads and cemeteries. And other "anti social behaviour". It started mid-April I believe...
The council's monthly newspaper with the details in has, however, long gone in the recycling bag. How ironic
.
The council's monthly newspaper with the details in has, however, long gone in the recycling bag. How ironic
. There is a law about dogs having to be on a lead? On 'B' roads? (I assume its the pavement not the actual road)
chrispy porker said:
Actually I don't have a problem with fining people who allow their dogs to foul the pavement. I find that kind of behaviour disgusting and if wardens give them FPN's thats fine by me. ( I have 2 dogs)
I am sure that there are many things that, in an ideal world, we would prefer to see. But....where does it stop? At what point does the cure become worse than the disease? We are seeing the creation of an army of busybodies, paid for by our taxes which could be spent on a better NHS or education system.
This way madness lies.
like this
www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=455443&in_page_id=1770
(i dont read the daily mail it was the first to come up in google)
One of the so called pluses in the apointment of PCSO's at the outset was their ability to issue tickets for two types of offences - types of cycling offences ,and dog fouling. But then the cash from fines went to the treasury . Who gets the cash from FPNs issued by council wardens ----whats the betting it's the councils and the start of more powers paid for by FPNs ----( something like the SCP empires).The idea of anti crap patrols is a good idea, but where does it stop, and is it the first step to the demise of the local beat bobby that PCSOs started ??
[quote=who me ?]One of the so called pluses in the apointment of PCSO's at the outset was their ability to issue tickets for two types of offences - types of cycling offences ,and dog fouling. But then the cash from fines went to the treasury . Who gets the cash from FPNs issued by council wardens ----whats the betting it's the councils and the start of more powers paid for by FPNs ----( something like the SCP empires).The idea of anti crap patrols is a good idea, but where does it stop, and is it the first step to the demise of the local beat bobby that PCSOs started ??[/quote]
To be honest I think the idea is to relieve the beat bobby of the burden of dealing with dog poo. Which is a good idea on several levels.
But I Take the point about increased 'warden' types.
One told me off and threatened to ticket me the other day for........dropping a fag butt. I apologised, picked it up and with due ceremony dropped it in the bin.Phew.
To be honest I think the idea is to relieve the beat bobby of the burden of dealing with dog poo. Which is a good idea on several levels.
But I Take the point about increased 'warden' types.
One told me off and threatened to ticket me the other day for........dropping a fag butt. I apologised, picked it up and with due ceremony dropped it in the bin.Phew.
who me said:
One of the so called pluses in the apointment of PCSO's at the outset was their ability to issue tickets for two types of offences - types of cycling offences ,and dog fouling. But then the cash from fines went to the treasury . Who gets the cash from FPNs issued by council wardens ----whats the betting it's the councils and the start of more powers paid for by FPNs ----( something like the SCP empires).The idea of anti crap patrols is a good idea, but where does it stop, and is it the first step to the demise of the local beat bobby that PCSOs started ??
It's the growth of tiered Policing.
Edited by vonhosen on Sunday 20th May 09:18
chrispy porker said:
Actually I don't have a problem with fining people who allow their dogs to foul the pavement. I find that kind of behaviour disgusting and if wardens give them FPN's thats fine by me. ( I have 2 dogs)
I can see what you are saying here, however the real issue is I think whether you mind being followed and tracked 24 hours a day by a system poised to give you a whipping every time to inadvertently step out of line.
It seems sort of like still being at a very strict school, but instead of teachers we end up having to answer to a bunch of
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