QUOTE (On the edge @ Jan 26 2017, 02:25 PM)
It's much cheaper employing PCSOs for the basics and I'm sure they do a good job. Interesting though that their chief thinks they are 'more or less Police Officers' - I always thought that was a jibe!
Unfortunately, they lack the powers of a Police Officer, including the power of arrest.
They have the power to issue various fixed penalty notices and seize unconcealed drugs/alcohol as appropriate. They have the power to require a name and address of a person suspected of motoring offences or anti-social behaviour
They don't even have the power of search unless in the company of and supervised by a constable