Staffordshire PCSOs Handed New Powers

Staffordshire Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) have been handed new powers in a shake-up of current rules.

PCSOs will now be able to keep any drugs or alcohol they seize  from suspects and can now handcuff people at will. However, PCSOs will not be able to beat suspects unless a Police officer is present.

"This is a great step forward for community policing," said Staffordshire Police spokesman Barry Shanks at a celebratory luncheon at Greggs in Hanley (the one near the public toilets, not the one near to Millets). "And will hopefully lead to a lot more arrests of crims and ne'er-do-wells."

Greggs the bakers

Not everyone is happy with the news. Police officers union spokesman Kenny Pegg said this is just another example of policing on the cheap. "This is just another example of policing on the cheap," he said. "We are seeing the number of real officers being reduced and these clowns in stab vests being given more powers, like their heads aren't big enough already."

But PCSOs union spokesman Kenny Pegg (Police and PCSOs have the same union) welcomed the move. "Some people call PCSOs 'clowns in stab vests', but this underestimates the fine work they do in the community. They are not big-headed, just caring and sharing, like your mum or something. But your mum carrying a big stick."