Comments on: Whats the difference between community police officers and proper police officers?

By: Ivan

Ivan — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 01:15:39 +0000

CLIVE H, you should check the law before writing nonsense. You can make a citizen’s arrest (or rather an arrest using the so called “any person powers”). Section 24A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act specifically allows any person to arrest someone who is committing or has committed an indictable offence, if they know or have reasonable grounds to suspect that person has committed the offence, AND it is not possible for a constable to make the arrest before the suspect makes off. The only exception is affray, which is an indictable offence but only a constable can arrest someone for affray.

By: Rick B

Rick B — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 15:13:28 +0000

A lot of the time, “Community Police” refers to “Reserve” or “Auxillary Police” It differs among departments and citys, but some times they are actually police officers (commissioned – meaning they have taken the “Peace officer academy test”) or they are uncommisioned and act on the authority by proxy of police officers. It can be confusing, there really are no clear laws on what uncommissioned reserves can do in most states. I mean theoretically, a cop and stop a citizen, most likely if they are armed, and ask them to assist, either with apprehending someone or borrowing their car!

To recap..

Reserve, Auxillary, and Community Police refers to the same people. Some are commisioned, meaning they are police officers and can make arrests and perform any action that police officers can do in that municipality, county, state or federal region. Commisions make you a police officer, however; Uncommisioned Reserves in most cases are recognised as police officers, they just have limitations, and usually do not carry firearms. As I said, every department has their own rules and regulations. Call your local police department and ask them if they commision their reserves or if they are uncommisioned volunteers.

Cities will employee commisioned reserves usually on a volunteer basis, sometimes they get paid for events (Parades, traffic, radar, etc..) but they are mostly volunteers. The only major difference between commisioned reserves and uncommisioned reserves is the power of arrest.

So there you go. I am a commisioned reserve (will soon be )

It is a way for cities to gain the extra patrol and extra manpower to be able to operate within a budget, it also gives people the ability to be cops, very part time. Most departments only require 8 – 16 hours a month to retain their commision / job, and pay for all academy / training costs.

P.S.
Commisioned Reserve Police Officers are Police Officers, they carry Hand guns, possibly tazers, OC (Mace), hand cuffs and the whole shooting match. They can arrest, ticket, serve warrants and pretty much anything else.

-Rick

By: wildrobin

wildrobin — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 16:04:08 +0000

Nothing they are both useless.

Edit Edward C use your dictionary if you know what one is

By: tommy

tommy — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 12:03:34 +0000

the big grown up ones are called pigs and the little community babies ones are called piglets…

By: CLIVE H

CLIVE H — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 07:27:56 +0000

Community Police Support Officers, are not fully qualified police officers and have no powers of arrest.

Let’s make this one clear. Here in UK there is no such thing as citizens arrest. Take my advice, don’t even raise a finger against a villain. He will have a better lawyer than you and he will screw you for assault if you so much as blink.

The only people with the power of arrest here in UK are the police – for example, qualified and on-duty police officers of such as the Metropolitan Police or any other recognised police force.

Security guards do have the right to ask you to return to a store if they think you have walked off with goods before paying for same. However, they do not have the right to grab hold of you and frog march you about. If such happens, sue them – you will win, because the whole thing will be on cctv. In any case the judge will probably be a liberal who will pat you on the wrist and talk about naughty security guards and horrid nightclub bouncers and so forth.

By: Ollie

Ollie — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 20:30:27 +0000

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are there to walk the beat, and be a presence to the public. They have no powers of arrest (except civilian power of arrest like the rest of us) and only have BASIC training in self-defence. If you were burgled, instead of sending out 2 or 3 Police Officers to your home, you’re more likely to see ONE police officer, and a PCSO.
The idea is that a PCSO can do all the “smaller” “pettier” jobs like attending to a burglary to take a statement, thereby leaving actual police officers more free time to do “real” police work.
PCSOs get paid about £17-18k/year
Police Officers start on about £20k/year but this goes up to about £22k(ish) once they’ve completed their probationary period.
Hope that answers your question?

By: Hang 'em high

Hang 'em high — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 09:47:06 +0000

One lot is paid more than the other lot,either way both are a waste of tax money!What’s the mug Edward C going on about ‘eyes and ears’,what’s the matter with the police and their narks doing their jobs?

By: Lawman

Lawman — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 03:10:43 +0000

Firstly you need to be clear whether you are talking about UK officers. If you, are then “proper” police officers are warranted sworn Constables, with full police powers. Police Community Support Officers are a fairly new invention. Depending which English or Welsh County you live in they have differing powers. They do not have police powers of arrest, but some Chief Constables do permit them to detain offenders for up to half hour until Police Officers arrive. They tend to deal with local community issues such as anti social behaviour and quality of life issues. The Metropolitan Police PCSO’s get paid quite well, but obviously not as much as regular officers. Sometimes, if people fail the grade to be a regular officer, they are invited to become PCSO’s. or Special Constables.

And if you’re not talking about UK officers – then I’ve wasted my time !!! LOL.

By: joan k

joan k — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 06:30:40 +0000

They are no differnet to an ordinary citizen. They are a waste of public money. The wages of 3 PCSOs would pay for 2 proper Police Officers and I know which I would sooner have. Another pathetic excuse by this government to make it look as if they are actually doing something about crime.

By: Jean D

Jean D — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 20:19:22 +0000

The proper title is
Wannabe, Hobby bobby.
Another farcical attempt to placate the public from the raging furnace with a chocolate fire guard.