Health & Safety of Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s)

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Conference
2009 Police Staff Service Group Conference
Date
25 June 2009
Decision
Carried as Amended

Conference is concerned that our PCSO members are increasingly being used to fill gaps in front line policing. As a result of this, they are deployed to confrontational situations, and because they are not equipped accordingly, they face ever increasing risks to their health and safety.

it is evident that our members are being directed to attend incidents such as drugs raids, firearms incident containment and public order matters on the pretext that these are not confrontational or dangerous situations.

We welcome and congratulate the Government on their initiative of introducing PCSO’s into our policing family and the subsequent well documented contributions to our communities and society in general.

We are disappointed that our members are being used inappropriately. This is contrary to the original intent of a body of non confrontational, proactive officers giving re-assurance and support to the communities within which we live.

Conference calls on the Service Group Executive to write to the Home Secretary expressing our disappointment at the misuse of such a valuable resource. PCSO’s should enjoy the same health and safety protection as other Police Staff members and not be deployed into situations that are not appropriate to their role.