Community officers

[steve.c]

As title, are they allowed to drive around in unmarked cars and pull people over?

A friend was followed other night(hence the question) they followed her for approx 2miles, then when she pulled up outside her friends house they just pulled along side and said "we need to speak to you!" gave her an on the spot fine for apparently discarding a crisp packet out of the window

[mark69sheer]

I would imagine they are ,
Thank the lord our streets are beginning to be rid of the 'crisp packet' menace.

That was sarcasm by the way.

[Sheriff JWPepper]

From your post they didn't pull your friend over, just said they needed to speak to her. Did she chuck out the crisp packet.

Edited by Sheriff JWPepper on Monday 22 October 17:24

[streaky]

steve.c said:

As title, are they allowed to drive around in unmarked cars and pull people over?

A friend was followed other night(hence the question) they followed her for approx 2miles, then when she pulled up outside her friends house they just pulled along side ...

So they didn't actually stop her?

steve.c said:

... they just pulled along side and said "we need to speak to you!" gave her an on the spot fine for apparently discarding a crisp packet out of the window

Was there any paperwork? Did she pay them there and then?

This could be a scam. I'd get the friend to follow it up at her local police station. And keep us posted.

Streaky

Edited by streaky on Monday 22 October 17:24

[stepej]

IIRC they are now able to direct traffic.
Including i assume the ability to ask you to stop.

[Hooli]

FishFace said:

Don't throw stuff out your car window. Works well.

if only more people followed this advice

[esselte]

stepej said:

IIRC they are now able to direct traffic.
Including i assume the ability to ask you to stop.

Really? I thought only uniformed police officers were allowed to pull you over?

[SS2.]

esselte said:

stepej said:

IIRC they are now able to direct traffic.
Including i assume the ability to ask you to stop.

Really? I thought only uniformed police officers were allowed to pull you over?

AIUI, hobby bobbies have limited powers of stop, search, seize and only in certain circumstances. I believe these are under the Terrorism Act 2000 in authorised / cordoned areas and under s.59 Police Reform Act 2002 (manner of driving likely to cause alarm, distress etc)..

Note also that Traffic PCSOs have been empowered with the (few) powers of a normal PCSO plus those of a traffic warden.

Edited by SS2. on Monday 22 October 19:56

[steve.c]

they issued her with a ticket for the alledged offence, then came back 2 hours later to ask her to sign it!!! she did make a note on the ticket when signing of the time they came back.
When she told me I had to post and ask as the car was unmarked and they put no lights on to get her to stop.She has since been to the local station and asked the same question i have and was told "yes they can drive unmarked cars!" but being 'hobby bobbies' I didn't know if they had the power or authority to drive around in an unmarked car with it being just two community support officers on there own.

[Sheriff JWPepper]

Did she chuck out the crisp packet?

[Sheriff JWPepper]

steve.c said:

but being 'hobby bobbies' I didn't know if they had the power or authority to drive around in an unmarked car with it being just two community support officers on there own.

It won't be an unmarked Volvo or Skoda VRS with covert blues, probably a fiesta, it's just transport. Possibly for getting to a distant beat if there is no local nick. No authority or power required.

[mark69sheer]

Sheriff JWPepper said:

Did she chuck out the crisp packet?

Yeah did she chuck out that packet . .come on tsk tsk she was a naughty waughty girl . .wants a smackum on her botty wotty.
She was a weally weally baaadd girl.

[Sheriff JWPepper]

Mark are you one of those middle class home boozers?

[mark69sheer]

Sheriff JWPepper said:

Did she chuck out the crisp packet?

I really can't believe we have a real policeman of the realm asking such a pathetic question.


Sure I get annoyed by littering but then I can't remember the last time I saw someone pushing a cart round the streets cleaning the pavements either.

The council save on their budgets by cutting street cleaning and then think that fining people for dropping waste will keep the steets clean.

and the police are stupid enough to get involved in enforcing the law for them when their own house is collapsing around their ears...

pathetic

[mark69sheer]

Sheriff JWPepper said:

Mark are you one of those middle class home boozers?

middle class probably , boozer definately not . .almost teetotal.

[Sheriff JWPepper]

Mark, the op is giving a scenario without the full info which is why I asked the question. I hadn't made a judgement on the allegation

Littering annoys the hell out of me and it people get a ticket for it then fine.

Edited by Sheriff JWPepper on Monday 22 October 21:15

[steve.c]

to answer the question..
no she didn't throw out a crisp packet as she doesn't eat crisps!
and it was a £50 fine

Edited by steve.c on Monday 22 October 21:16

[Sheriff JWPepper]

Thank you, a day in court then I guess if she has the will to fight it.

[steve.c]

have just spoken to her and she also told me when they came back to get her to sign,they basically said "if you don't sign it we will see you in court!"

[Sheriff JWPepper]

steve.c said:

have just spoken to her and she also told me when they came back to get her to sign,they basically said "if you don't sign it we will see you in court!"

Bluntly put but essentially correct.

If an FPN is not accepted or disputed then it will end up in court.

Edited by Sheriff JWPepper on Monday 22 October 21:41