Halve the number of BiBs ...

[streaky]

and get 30-day trained civvies to do the work.

At least that's what's reported as under consideration by Blunderkit.

Why does that equate to "double the number of cameras" in my mind?

Of course, 1,000 of that 50% will be joining the UK Security Service.

Humph!

Streaky

[silverback mike]

I'm not sure it would get off the ground. But then, I suppose I would say that.

Is it me, or didn't blunkett recently say that he personally was going to swell the ranks of rank and file police officers.

This countries (potential) policies continue to amaze me.

[WildCat]

'Twas reported in "Mail on Sunday" - They will be called "Police Community Support Officers" who will cost a "lot less money that a real policeman" says Glen Smyth of the Met Police, adding "policing on the cheap - quantity not quality!"

They will be sent to "investigate burglaries", and will be allowed to detain suspects for 30 minutes, dish out on the spot fines for various offences, use speed guns, but will not be allowed to carry batons, handcuffs etc!

Per MOS article:

Blunderkit's daft proposals claim that "these PCSOs will have the specialist knowledge and skills to ensure all policing functions can be delivered appropriately!"

Yeah right!?

[streaky]

WildCat said:

They will be ... allowed to detain suspects for 30 minutes, ... but will not be allowed to carry batons, handcuffs etc!

So how are they going to achieve that? After all, no member of the public is going to assist for fear that they will be the one looking at a prosecution whilst the villain goes free (article in the MoS as well) - Streaky

[Dwight VanDriver]

Wake up Gents - Community Support Officers are already in being. We have some in my Town who wander around like lost souls.

Police Reform Act 2002 Schedule 4 gives them certain powers.

Likewise we now have a plethora of civvies - custody officers (on line), statement takers, case preparation officers, file checkers (in being)etc etc.

Highways Agency this spring are to start to patrol Motorway starting with the M6 in the Midlands.

BiB, as we knew them, are becoming an endangered species. When Bliar says he has increased the strength of the Police it is the above people he is talking about.

DVD

[WildCat]

Ach!

It looks like UK is getting more and more like old Stasi Germany and USSR - especially with the cameras everywhere! (I should know - lived in Leipzig (just before Wall came down!) for 3 months (work) and Moscow for 6 months (This was supposed to improve my spoken Russian - -'cept they did not allow me to talk to them as "could be a decadent and corrupting influence"!

Wonder why?


New Labour? More like Old-style Communism!

[hertsbiker]

hmmmmmm... and I wonder how many civilian injuries will occur as a result of restraint or attempted restraint? all it takes is one jumped up Stasi to try holding the wrong person, and it could get rather dramatic.

[Flat in Fifth]

Dwight VanDriver said:

Highways Agency this spring are to start to patrol Motorway starting with the M6 in the Midlands. DVD

And hasn't old Blunderstorm predicted in a speech road-side fisticuffs in the early hours over jurisdiction disputes?

FiF

PS forgot to add we've got these civilian sherrifs too. Wandering like lost souls about sums it up.



>> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Monday 1st March 10:16

[deeen]

hertsbiker said:

hmmmmmm... and I wonder how many civilian injuries will occur as a result of restraint or attempted restraint? all it takes is one jumped up Stasi to try holding the wrong person, and it could get rather dramatic.

there should be no "wrong person", everyone should be subject to the law. thats why the police have the resources to follow up an attempt to arrest someone, whatever it takes. how many helicopters do these civilian wardens have access to, for example?

>> Edited by deeen on Monday 1st March 21:53

[james_j]

WildCat said:

Ach! It looks like UK is getting more and more like old Stasi Germany and USSR - especially with the cameras everywhere! (I should know - lived in Leipzig (just before Wall came down!) for 3 months (work) and Moscow for 6 months (This was supposed to improve my spoken Russian - -'cept they did not allow me to talk to them as "could be a decadent and corrupting influence"! Wonder why? New Labour? More like Old-style Communism!

Yes, and more reasons to think "New" (Same Old) Labour are going all old-style commie; for example: encouraging local busybodies to point speed cameras at motorists in their locality and encouraging spying and reporting on neighbours for certain infringements.

[streaky]

Dwight VanDriver said:

Wake up Gents - Community Support Officers are already in being.

DVD - I posted this not because of the PCSOs, but because of the apparent threat (read "B'liarite promise") to reduce the number of real BiBs by 50% - S

>> Edited by streaky on Tuesday 2nd March 07:54

[Derek Smith]

And in 3 years time, these Community Support Officers will have their powers increased to include full police powers of arrest and their numbers increased - at the cost of the 'real' police. Then, 3 years later they will be the police, with just a scattering of old style, fully trained officers to guard the politicians.

When CSOs were first suggested we were told they would be in addition to regulars.

This is not a new idea. There are many contries where there are two, and more, tier police units. These all experience problems of jurisdiction, of antagonism and working against one another. They look to this country with jealousy. Or they did.

We had a New York equavalent inspector staying with us for a few days and I took her out on patrol. She told us of all the problems associated with their multiude of different security and police systems.

Blunkett will, of course, say that CSOs are completely different. He also believes in Father Christmas, the Tooth Fairy and New Labour.

[d-man]

Heard on the news this morning that there are now more BiB than ever before, I was at a loss as to think who could now be classed as BiB that didn't used to be to make up that figure.

Guess these CSOs probably helped improve the numbers.

[Tafia]

WildCat said:

Ach! It looks like UK is getting more and more like old Stasi Germany and USSR - especially with the cameras everywhere! (I should know - lived in Leipzig (just before Wall came down!) for 3 months (work) and Moscow for 6 months (This was supposed to improve my spoken Russian - -'cept they did not allow me to talk to them as "could be a decadent and corrupting influence"! Wonder why? New Labour? More like Old-style Communism!

Ah, Communism.... How many know that the political correctness which now appears to infest many police forces is actually a tool of Communism and began life in 1920's Germany in what became known as "the Frankfurt School"

See here and be surprised............or not.

http://individual.utoronto.ca/alexander/pc/

[Mr E]

Hmmm. What are they going to call this?

Police Lite?
Diet Police?

[deeen]

Po-lite