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On the beat with your PCSOs
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| PCSOs Geraint Jones and Britt Clarke make sure peace is restored at Kingsmead shops. |
POLICE Community Support Officers have been hitting the headlines in recent weeks as residents debate their effectiveness.
They were introduced as a reassuring uniformed presence in communities but have been accused of being a waste of time because they do not have the same enforcement powers as full police officers.
So the Guardian was invited to join a Friday night patrol with PCSOs Britt Clarke and Geraint Jones to see just what they tackle on the beat.
And we videoed them as they worked in the community, so readers can see it for themselves.
Our first port of call on Friday was an address in Barnton where a 14-year-old girl had been accused of stealing some cigarettes from a friend who then threatened to beat her up.
PCSO Clarke, who covers Witton and Winnington, said: "I would say that for 90 per cent of our work we are the peacemakers.
"We deal with an array of things like neighbour disputes and abandoned 999 calls - sometimes people just can't talk to each other so they call us out and we shed a different light on it and it gets a result."
The PCSOs searched the girl, who did not have the cigarettes, and arranged for her to be picked up by her dad before they were called to disperse a gang of more than 25 youths causing a nuisance at the shops in Kingsmead.
| Parents think we’re always picking on the kids and that there’s only a few of them but when they get here and see the vast amount of them and how intimidating it is they realise the groups do need splitting up. | | PCSO Britt Clarke |
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Nuisance
This is a common call-out for Northwich's PCSOs on the night shift, when they spend time on mobile patrol tackling nuisance youths and alcohol related disorder before problems escalate.
On Friday night PCSOs Clarke and Jones threatened to take down the details of each teenager's parents and call them out if they did not disperse, which was extremely effective.
PCSO Clarke said: "I think it's good for parents to see the gangs kids are actually hanging around in - parents think we're always picking on the kids and that there's only a few of them but when they get here and see the vast amount of them and how intimidating it is they realise the groups do need splitting up."
During the day shifts PCSOs deal with community issues like parking problems, litter and working with schools.
PCSO Jones, who covers Lostock and Wincham, said: "The school children love us and we're on first name terms with them."
To see a video of the PCSOs patrol on Friday night visit our website northwichguardian.co.uk and follow the video links.
6:42pm Monday 18th February 2008
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CommentPosted by: Crusader, Cheshire on 8:53am Tue 19 Feb 08
Waste of money. We have Fahy asking us for more money for this?
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang childcatchers and litter pickers.
More money? I want a refund as we no longer need litter pickers.... PCSO's can do it.
Waste of money. We have Fahy asking us for more money for this?
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang childcatchers and litter pickers.
More money? I want a refund as we no longer need litter pickers.... PCSO's can do it.
Posted by: Terry, Winsford on 11:54am Tue 19 Feb 08
Well said!
Posted by: jeff Green, Northwich on 9:48am Wed 20 Feb 08
Looking at the readers survey regarding satisfaction with the police in Northwich should worry the Chief Constable greatly. 95.2% are saying they are not happy with the service we currently get from the police.I have had some correspondence with the Cheif Cons: and Insp: Minghella regarding my concerns about the service,so this survey proves I am not alone in my concerns. I have voiced my concerns regarding traffic violations ie. going through red lights, parking on yellow lines etc ect.To be honest all i have had is platitudinuos replies and as far as I can see no police action.I have advocated a period of Zero Tolerance for parking and traffic offences but as far as I can see the problems have notbeen acted upon. Northwich seems to be free from law enforcement, walk around the town anytime and there are numerous youths riding bicycles on the pedestrian areas,if one remonstrates with them you just get foul and abusive language from them.When you do see a police officer on the beat (it does happen) they just saunter around ignoring illegally parked cars and the youths on bikes.We demand that we get value for money from the police,it is the least we are entitled to.
Looking at the readers survey regarding satisfaction with the police in Northwich should worry the Chief Constable greatly. 95.2% are saying they are not happy with the service we currently get from the police.I have had some correspondence with the Cheif Cons: and Insp: Minghella regarding my concerns about the service,so this survey proves I am not alone in my concerns. I have voiced my concerns regarding traffic violations ie. going through red lights, parking on yellow lines etc ect.To be honest all i have had is platitudinuos replies and as far as I can see no police action.I have advocated a period of Zero Tolerance for parking and traffic offences but as far as I can see the problems have notbeen acted upon. Northwich seems to be free from law enforcement, walk around the town anytime and there are numerous youths riding bicycles on the pedestrian areas,if one remonstrates with them you just get foul and abusive language from them.When you do see a police officer on the beat (it does happen) they just saunter around ignoring illegally parked cars and the youths on bikes.We demand that we get value for money from the police,it is the least we are entitled to.
Posted by: Terry, Winsford on 12:19pm Wed 20 Feb 08
Jeff, that's a very interesting piece you have wrote and well it does not surprise me in the slightest in what you have said.
It just confirms my own feelings about appalling law enforcement (or lack of) not just in Northwich but across the country!
It's not that the police are incapable nor is it because there are not the laws there for enforcement to happen.
The problem is government policy (red tape, P.C, targets, etc) they have groomed the force to what it has become and all we see is the police demanding more money - this is merely a catalyst in the wider problem.
Job satisfaction in the police force is at an all time low!
Jeff, that's a very interesting piece you have wrote and well it does not surprise me in the slightest in what you have said.
It just confirms my own feelings about appalling law enforcement (or lack of) not just in Northwich but across the country!
It's not that the police are incapable nor is it because there are not the laws there for enforcement to happen.
The problem is government policy (red tape, P.C, targets, etc) they have groomed the force to what it has become and all we see is the police demanding more money - this is merely a catalyst in the wider problem.
Job satisfaction in the police force is at an all time low!
Posted by: Angry Man, Kingsmead on 2:34pm Wed 20 Feb 08
I am very dissapointed in your piece of footage because you do not show [bold]wilko[/bold] up close, you take him home. I WAS OUTRAGED! Poor [bold]wilko[/bold] , he'll be seeing you next friday[bold]bold[/bold]
I am very dissapointed in your piece of footage because you do not show
wilko up close, you take him home. I WAS OUTRAGED! Poor
wilko , he'll be seeing you next friday
Posted by: concerned?, Northwich on 10:36pm Wed 20 Feb 08
I am glad that there are so many people concerned about the police service in our county. As Terry said there is a lot more red tape than people could ever imagine. The answer to our problems would be for concerned residents to do what my mate did and to try to make a difference themselves. If it annoys you so much then become a police officer in your spare time join the Special Constabulary and see what the police have to put up with. You will be given full powers of arrest and exactly the same uniform and kit as a regular officer and all you have to do is give 4 and a quarter hours a week free of charge and then you can really make a difference to the local community. So put up or shut up!
I am glad that there are so many people concerned about the police service in our county. As Terry said there is a lot more red tape than people could ever imagine. The answer to our problems would be for concerned residents to do what my mate did and to try to make a difference themselves. If it annoys you so much then become a police officer in your spare time join the Special Constabulary and see what the police have to put up with. You will be given full powers of arrest and exactly the same uniform and kit as a regular officer and all you have to do is give 4 and a quarter hours a week free of charge and then you can really make a difference to the local community. So put up or shut up!
Posted by: Terry, Winsford on 10:38am Thu 21 Feb 08
Who in their right mind would want to commit 4.25 hours a week free of charge putting one's self at risk when we live in a climate of appalling law enforcement caused by this current establishment. With police moral at an all time low, I can't for the life of me imagine how specials can make a difference when so many of those who are being paid are struggling to do just that!
It's not volunteers that are needed, it's up to the People of the UK to stand up and be counted and demand that this government restores the police service to what it once was and if that means going back to the 1970s methods used then, so be it!
Aggressive policing is needed! and those chaps currently being paid are just the men to do not... not the pathetic toy-cop PCSOs for goodness sake!
Who in their right mind would want to commit 4.25 hours a week free of charge putting one's self at risk when we live in a climate of appalling law enforcement caused by this current establishment. With police moral at an all time low, I can't for the life of me imagine how specials can make a difference when so many of those who are being paid are struggling to do just that!
It's not volunteers that are needed, it's up to the People of the UK to stand up and be counted and demand that this government restores the police service to what it once was and if that means going back to the 1970s methods used then, so be it!
Aggressive policing is needed! and those chaps currently being paid are just the men to do not... not the pathetic toy-cop PCSOs for goodness sake!
Posted by: Gim, Here on 12:52pm Thu 21 Feb 08
I think you should just arrest them all. I always feel intimidated by people cooler than me, such as wilko who is in the video. I also have a bb ak47.
I think you should just arrest them all. I always feel intimidated by people cooler than me, such as wilko who is in the video. I also have a bb ak47.
Posted by: Dan Jones, Behind you on 2:12pm Thu 21 Feb 08
I wish i was like you, your all so brave standing up to those youths. [bold]Wilko[/bold] is my boyfriend, thanks for bringing him back home, so he can cuddle up to me.
I wish i was like you, your all so brave standing up to those youths.
Wilko is my boyfriend, thanks for bringing him back home, so he can cuddle up to me.
Posted by: Wilko, you took me home, where do you think on 2:14pm Thu 21 Feb 08
Take me home, take me home [quote]Wilko is my boyfriend[/quote].
Take me home, take me home
Wilko is my boyfriend
.
Posted by: tom wilko, moulton on 10:04am Fri 22 Feb 08
I think alll this **** is ****.
you need to find some place for us to go.
and stop moaning about us going to the shop....
you do it.
LADDDDDDDD
LOTS OF LOVE [italic][bold]WILKSSS[/bold][/italic]
TOOOSHAAAIIII
I think alll this **** is ****.
you need to find some place for us to go.
and stop moaning about us going to the shop....
you do it.
LADDDDDDDD
LOTS OF LOVE
WILKSSS
TOOOSHAAAIIII
Posted by: izzy izzy izzy shoot dat bizzy haha, up ur mum haha on 11:17pm Sat 23 Feb 08
haha see ya next u stupid mong bizzys haha izzy izzy izzy shoot dat bizzy[bold]bold[/bold]
haha see ya next u stupid mong bizzys haha izzy izzy izzy shoot dat bizzy
Posted by: izzy izzy izzy shoot dat bizzy haha, up ur mum haha on 11:20pm Sat 23 Feb 08
hahaha poor wilko lol
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