THE FORCES USING PCSOS TO INVESTIGATE BURGLARIES

POLICE forces are using PCSOs to investigate crimes including burglary and vandalism as they ‘run out’ of fully trained staff.

Senior officers at more than a third of forces are directing the civilian officers to respond to calls for help from the public.

The police and community support officers, who do not have powers of arrest, are expected to pass inquiries on to detectives if they become more complex.

PCSOs, nicknamed ‘plastic policemen’ by their detractors, have been investigating burglaries in the West Midlands, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and Cleveland.

One PCSO published CCTV footage of an intruder caught on camera at a social club in Aldenham, Hertfordshire.

In Surrey, a PCSO urged residents to be vigilant after three break-ins at properties in Banstead and Hooley. In Lincolnshire a PCSO asked for help to solve a shed burglary and damage to a nearby fence.

Simon Kempton, of the Police Federation, which represents rank and file police officers, said: ‘This is policing on the cheap. Chief constables are simply running out of properly trained people to send to jobs.’

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary has criticised chief constables for failing to provide adequate training for PCSOs’ expanded responsibilities.

Hertfordshire Police said regular police officers, special constables, civilian investigators and PCSOs ‘all have a valuable role in offering a reassuring presence to the public [and] helping to fight crime and anti-social behaviour’.