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[Dishevelled Den]

I think the problem is James,from the perspective of "the man in the street",public spirited people such as your self who are willing to give up their time and energy to put effort into trying to do some good for their local community should be applauded for doing so.Special constables have been around for a very long time and can be a valuable addition to the full time police.My old Dad was a "special" although in Belfast it was a different kind of special to the rest of the U.K. but the aim was still the same - to try to help maintain law and order.
The problem many of us have these days is that it would appear that full time fully trained police officers are very often conspicuous by their absence on the streets of Britain these days,and it looks like the government is using people like yourself to replace them on the streets as a form of policing on the cheap.With people who have been the victims of crome or seen it at close quarters it causes a lot of anger/frustration and leaves a very bad taste.

...just a tad different A 

Different in a 303 rifle or a Sterling sub machine gun kind of way Z.

 

[albitz]

Just been speaking to him on the phone.Almost 80,just out of hospital,fell over and knocked himself senseless and black & blue all over.Still talking about a few people he would like to do some damage to..........tough as old boots those old B specials.

[Dishevelled Den]

Just been speaking to him on the phone.Almost 80,just out of hospital,fell over and knocked himself senseless and black & blue all over.Still talking about a few people he would like to do some damage to..........tough as old boots those old B specials.

...along with the RUC of course that was a time when real men wore the uniform

[albitz]

Absolutely ......Even if they did drag my teenage arse to court on many occasions.

[cruisetopoland]

PCSOs do have their uses though...in Leominster there is a visible flock of them-and they give you mobile numbers for any problems need dealing with.  They are an easy way to get the Police to attend something and have transformed The Grange park by their presence.

I agree getting in touch with Police is difficult out of hours (when most needed!) as stations are closed, helpline phone outside connects 50 miles away, 999 is for emergencies, local non-emergency number only gets answered after 5 minutes and takes them 5 minutes to transfer you-to an answerphone....

PCSOs are a cheap alternative and a useful deterrent if deployed correctly-ours have been very productive.

Perfect policing is impossible within government budgets.

[PhilRich]

PCSOs do have their uses though...in Leominster there is a visible flock of them-and they give you mobile numbers for any problems need dealing with.  They are an easy way to get the Police to attend something and have transformed The Grange park by their presence.

I agree getting in touch with Police is difficult out of hours (when most needed!) as stations are closed, helpline phone outside connects 50 miles away, 999 is for emergencies, local non-emergency number only gets answered after 5 minutes and takes them 5 minutes to transfer you-to an answerphone....

PCSOs are a cheap alternative and a useful deterrent if deployed correctly-ours have been very productive.

Perfect policing is impossible within government budgets.

[/highlight]

Perfect Policing is impossible full stop, as long as the Police are the only ones doing it!

[cruisetopoland]

I wouldn't want to do it.

My dad was a PC for 29 years and I know first hand how tough it can be and how it never goes away.

It does make me laugh that it is often the jobless crims that complain the most; they could NEVER do the job-especially with all the politics, targets and frequent changes of management each with their own career agenda.

PCSO 18k pa.  STUFF THAT!!!! 

[r1]

want a copper

just do 35 in a 30 or drive a untaxed car and they will be round straight away