Hello All!!!

I am a PCSO ( Police Community Support Officer ) and yes they can direct you to stop if they wish, but obviously they have not got any blues and twos so cant realistically pull you over. You can only really get pulled over if its a marked car or it has blue lights.

They obviously wanted to check the car out, and yourself out which is perfectly reasonable. If they thought you looked dodgy or boy racer(ish) then they are well within their rights to do so, they just cant search unless with a Police Constable.

With regards to the threat of a S.59 notice Nico, you must have been doing something else, and your not letting on. You were either playing loud music or revving the engine ( basically, using a motor vehicle in an Anti Social manner ). If not, then you should have asked what the S.59 warning was going to be for?

Be very very careful with S.59 warnings. If you get 1 you need to be worrying, as another one will lead to seizure of the vehicle, and it will be crushed no matter what! ( It applies to both Vehicle, and yourself... so if you were sat driving in your Fiesta and you got a S.59 warning, then the next day were doing the same in your mates Fez, your mates Fez will be crushed )

Nico, were not really there to solve murders or anything big, but what we are there for is re-assurance, cutting down on ASB and general neighbourhood issues like anti social parking, and neighbourhood disputes. I think we do a damn good job, but then again.... I would say that wouldnt I

If you need any advice....... just ask!

no i was baffled by it! they said it was a hot spot for people playing loud music while i was sat in the boot of the car while my mate was having a smoke and said if you dont move on we can offer you one! i aint a idiot who does all that i woudnt be too pleased if anything would happen to my fez :( haha

Think it was last year, an incident happened in or around Wigan if I remember correctly that the papers picked up nationally. They vilified two PCSO's for watching a child drown in a lake/pit, saying they let the child drown because it wasn't their duty to jump in and rescue the child when in reality the incident was nothing like what was reported. The papers gave the impression, by missing out crucial facts, that the PCSO's stood there whilst the child went in the water and they refused to act.

The reality was, when they got there (the PCSO's) the child had been in and under the water for a considerable time, couldn't be seen from the bank, so stuck to guidelines and didn't go into the water due to the risk to their safety.

One thing with the police at the moment though is that there seems to be a culture of standing back and letting crime happen then trying (and usually failing) to prosecute after. Instead of actually stopping crimes happening in the first place

I think you'll find that's due to the stupid targets they have to meet and the ludicrous amount of paperwork they have to fill in. And don't forget, when it comes to the punishment if it's given by a court it has nothing to do with the arresting officers, it's the damn judges that keep letting all the criminals of the !Removed! hook!!

Why let a damn peodophile out and tell the police to watch him for the rest of his life!! Chuck their !Removed! in jail and throw the key away for the rest of their life's!!

My sisters best friend husband is a traffic cop, has been for years I think, he drives or did drive an unmarked Skoda with about 300bhp!! Anyway the story's he can tell... the utter idiots on the roads in his story's....

I want more like him on the roads.

And I tend not to read the papers anymore, ANY paper, but I did take interest in the expenses scandal.

no i was baffled by it! they said it was a hot spot for people playing loud music while i was sat in the boot of the car while my mate was having a smoke and said if you dont move on we can offer you one! i aint a idiot who does all that i woudnt be too pleased if anything would happen to my fez :( haha

Where was you nico lad?

Where was you nico lad?

mary anne....twice!!!!

I will only ever see these PCSO's as policing on the cheap. Sorry but I would much rather have my tax's spent on proper police people that can actually arrest anyone for anything, I would also much prefer a LOT more of real traffic police to be out on the roads but alas their long gone now we have GATSO's, sorry I meant cash point machines for government and road safety alliance dictators oops I meant directors!!!!

I totally agree. They employ PCSOs instead of paying for Police Officers. It's a cheap option to avoid the cost of the 2 year training.

Being married to a Policeman, I can assure you that the majority of real Police Officers do not have a particularly high opinion of PCSOs. Generally, they're "wannabes" but can't actually make the grade to get into a Police Force any other way and they earn as much as "qualified" PCs but without the 2 year training.

Sorry if I've upset any PCSOs!

I would try and form a response to your reply, but its virtually unreadable. If you're going to criticise my job and be insulting when I came on here trying to help, then the least you could do is word it so it makes sense!

At last! A sensible post by KeithC.

Oh well, you can call me what you like, and criticise my job all you like, but its paid for my new Fiesta Titanium so what the hell? :P

All i see PCSO has run arounds for the police like someone said on this thread the police should put there money into propar policeing instead of wasteing it on plastic cops that are out there to earn brownie points by picking on us drivers.

All i see PCSO has run arounds for the police like someone said on this thread the police should put there money into propar policeing instead of wasteing it on plastic cops that are out there to earn brownie points by picking on us drivers.

It's strange, in over 20 years of driving, I've only been pulled over by the cops twice. Maybe I don't give them a reason to pull me over.

Yep, and judging by a few of the posts on this thread, taxpayer's money is also clearly wasted on the education system, because the spelling is atrocious!!

I actually don't run around for officers, my role is completely different to theirs. If I was a run around for the officers, surely I would be doing all their paperwork no?

MrsMcbee... hmm not sure where you got the two year training from? I know you have a 2 year probation but not a 2 year training period. I take it your husband is on response? If so, he would not understand how a neighbourhood team works, because a lot of the response PC's are quite ignorant ( They may be jealous because the neighbourhood team PC's and PCSO's do not work past 11pm and get bank holidays off at our station? ). Our force is wholly neighbourhood policing focused, and have pledged that PCSO's are here to stay, I dont know if this applies to all forces, but obviously my force sees how much good work is done by the PCSO's.

I find your comment about PCSO's are only in the job because they have not made the grade to become a PC quite baffling, considering most PCSO's go on to become PC's!!!!

Yep, and judging by a few of the posts on this thread, taxpayer's money is also clearly wasted on the education system, because the spelling is atrocious!!

I actually don't run around for officers, my role is completely different to theirs. If I was a run around for the officers, surely I would be doing all their paperwork no?

well all i can say is we all can't be perfect at spelling has something to do with schooling i think.

It's strange, in over 20 years of driving, I've only been pulled over by the cops twice. Maybe I don't give them a reason to pull me over.

You know I used to get stopped all of the time in my Mk.4 never for any specific reason... Since I've had my Mk7 I have never yet been pulled over by police!! Have only been stopped on two other occasions one being a toll-plaza check point outside Valencia (Full car and person check, under bonnet, the works) the other being Customs and Excise at Dover (they just checked inside the cabin and boot. lol they didn't even look in the glove box!) The car wasn't molested (panels removed etc) in either case which I was happy about :)

Not that there was a Malaysian orphan inside the door panel and 50 kilos of crack glued to the petrol tank or anything like that....

Yep, and judging by a few of the posts on this thread, taxpayer's money is also clearly wasted on the education system, because the spelling is atrocious!!

I actually don't run around for officers, my role is completely different to theirs. If I was a run around for the officers, surely I would be doing all their paperwork no?

MrsMcbee... hmm not sure where you got the two year training from? I know you have a 2 year probation but not a 2 year training period. I take it your husband is on response? If so, he would not understand how a neighbourhood team works, because a lot of the response PC's are quite ignorant ( They may be jealous because the neighbourhood team PC's and PCSO's do not work past 11pm and get bank holidays off at our station? ). Our force is wholly neighbourhood policing focused, and have pledged that PCSO's are here to stay, I dont know if this applies to all forces, but obviously my force sees how much good work is done by the PCSO's.

I find your comment about PCSO's are only in the job because they have not made the grade to become a PC quite baffling, considering most PCSO's go on to become PC's!!!!

Matt, whilst it may not apply to ALL, I can only say what I know of and my husband has been in the "job" for more than 30 years. The last 25 of which he has spent in London and the last 22 as a DC (his choice not to go for promotion despite 11 O Levels and 3 A Levels). When he was first posted to London, he was given Brixton as his home beat so he does actually know what neighbourhood policing is like. Within 2 months of being there, he was barricaded in at Brixton Police station following the riots. I do think he might have some idea of how policing has changed over the years and what it's like at the sharp end. He has worked shifts for the last 30 years+ so I don't really understand your comment about being jealous for not working shifts. Surely that's wrong as trouble occurs AFTER hours (when the pubs chuck out etc).

He also spent a year on the Anti-terrorist squad following the bombings and has been involved in every major rail crash since Kings Cross. He also has 10 commendations. I can't tell you what squad he works on but yes, there was a 2 year probation during which he underwent numerous courses, 16 weeks, 6 weeks etc. I know because I was at home with 2 small children on my own. The training carried out today is nowhere near as intense as it was in the past.

I never said that PCSOs run around after Police Officers but in his experience, the lack of "training" shows. Obviously in your "neighbourhood", they are lucky to have PCSOs that can pass the entrance exams but it is not the same for the rest of the country.

I think matt1987 is full of him self like titanium_s_spec said we are all not great spellers but matt1987 has not made a spelling misake in his life has he

I think matt1987 is full of him self like titanium_s_spec said we are all not great spellers but matt1987 has not made a spelling misake in his life has he

I am not saying I am perfect with my spelling, but I can at least string a post together that makes sense.

MrsMcbee, how is not working over 10pm wrong? Do not forget that I work on a neighbourhood team. We do not get involved in " Pub turnouts " and the like, maybe it's because we do not have a town centre on our patch? I do not know.

All I can say is, people should not come on here to criticise and to be insulting with regards to other peoples careers. I came on here to help, and basically had it thrown back in my face. I shall not be doing that again.

What a kind bunch you are

I am not saying I am perfect with my spelling, but I can at least string a post together that makes sense.

MrsMcbee, how is not working over 10pm wrong? Do not forget that I work on a neighbourhood team. We do not get involved in " Pub turnouts " and the like, maybe it's because we do not have a town centre on our patch? I do not know.

All I can say is, people should not come on here to criticise and to be insulting with regards to other peoples careers. I came on here to help, and basically had it thrown back in my face. I shall not be doing that again.

What a kind bunch you are

having you said all that ^^ unfortunately your working for near enough the police and thats never a public favorite is it? everyone has a lil moan they can have haha... butttttt having said that you have helped me before and from reading through it all so thanks :) (i the one being kind here!)

I am not saying I am perfect with my spelling, but I can at least string a post together that makes sense.

MrsMcbee, how is not working over 10pm wrong? Do not forget that I work on a neighbourhood team. We do not get involved in " Pub turnouts " and the like, maybe it's because we do not have a town centre on our patch? I do not know.

All I can say is, people should not come on here to criticise and to be insulting with regards to other peoples careers. I came on here to help, and basically had it thrown back in my face. I shall not be doing that again.

What a kind bunch you are

BOO HOO

In all fairness I do feel for matt1987 in this thread, people are slagging off his career left, right and centre and he has a right to feel a bit hard done by here.

"...to address anti-social behaviour, the fear of crime, environmental issues and other factors which affect the quality of peoples lives. For example; reporting vandalism or damaged street furniture, reporting suspicious activity; providing crime prevention advice, deterring juvenile nuisance and visiting victims of crime."

If this is the purpose of PCSOs and they work towards achieving these aims whilst costing less of taxpayers money than other members of the Police force then can anyone really complain? It's a visible Police presence on the streets which everyone was moaning that we're lacking these days.

Also, I'm 21 and drive what I think is a fairly nice car for my age, if I get pulled over by the Police because I look a bit young or whatever then fine, I'm taxed, insured and own the car - I've got nothing to worry about it's just a bit inconveinient. If someone had just stolen my car and then got pulled over in the same circumstances I wouldn't be complaining!

Rant over.

Also,

Not that there was a Malaysian orphan inside the door panel and 50 kilos of crack glued to the petrol tank or anything like that....

Also,

Also, I'm 21 and drive what I think is a fairly nice car for my age, if I get pulled over by the Police because I look a bit young or whatever then fine, I'm taxed, insured and own the car - I've got nothing to worry about it's just a bit inconveinient. If someone had just stolen my car and then got pulled over in the same circumstances I wouldn't be complaining!

Rant over.

And that my friend is exactly what the people moaning about being stopped, should take a minute and think about. But do they? Do they hell, they just want to play the victim all the time.

It is right that people should get pulled over, spot checks or whatever they are called should be more of a regular occurrence. Last night i had three separate police cars following me during my journey home from work (i blame this on it being 23.45 and very foggy). Me and my friend didn't bat an eyelid, i knew i was taxed, insured and driving within the speed limits and in an appropriate fashion for the foggy driving conditions. I know one day i will probably get pulled over one night coming back from work because i'm young and driving late at night, everyone in my situation should be expecting it! As long as you don't drive like an utter knob then i can't see the problem. Those that do drive untaxed, uninsured and knob-like deserve it!

In all fairness I do feel for matt1987 in this thread, people are slagging off his career left, right and centre and he has a right to feel a bit hard done by here.

I too, feel that the chap has been a little hard done by.

It's certainly easy to be critical of jobs that we've never done or never will do. I would say for example, that shelf-stacking is a rubbish career, but those who do it would obviously be offended (I did it in my youth, so know what it's like!).

Anyone who feels the need to, can divert the flaming of poor Matt to myself: I'm an accountant for one, and work for a very large pharmaceutical as well. Oh, and I am a qualified FA Football Referee. That should be plenty good enough to warrant a few abusive comments

There are a number of jobs some us just 'don't get', but for the person doing it, a job is better than none at all (usually). There are far too many people claiming benefits that are simply too lazy to get off their backsides and work and all of us on here, as tax payers, fund their habit.

Should we not be more offended by that, than someone's career choice?

Personally, I couldn't do what Matt does - I'd lose my temper far too quickly; much how I could never teach, or be a social worker (even with the training!). I've got a lot of respect for people who do jobs like these, so have a pat on the back from me ;)

I too, feel that the chap has been a little hard done by.

It's certainly easy to be critical of jobs that we've never done or never will do. I would say for example, that shelf-stacking is a rubbish career, but those who do it would obviously be offended (I did it in my youth, so know what it's like!).

Anyone who feels the need to, can divert the flaming of poor Matt to myself: I'm an accountant for one, and work for a very large pharmaceutical as well. Oh, and I am a qualified FA Football Referee. That should be plenty good enough to warrant a few abusive comments

There are a number of jobs some us just 'don't get', but for the person doing it, a job is better than none at all (usually). There are far too many people claiming benefits that are simply too lazy to get off their backsides and work and all of us on here, as tax payers, fund their habit.

Should we not be more offended by that, than someone's career choice?

Personally, I couldn't do what Matt does - I'd lose my temper far too quickly; much how I could never teach, or be a social worker (even with the training!). I've got a lot of respect for people who do jobs like these, so have a pat on the back from me ;)

Cheers mate, I totally agree with your post.

I have a mate who is a qualified FA referee! He only refs the lower league games though... I think he does the conference North?

Cheers mate, I totally agree with your post.

I have a mate who is a qualified FA referee! He only refs the lower league games though... I think he does the conference North?

lets show a little fiesta community spirit and put this thread to rest, i feel enough point's have been scored. lets all rejoice in the one thing we all have in common and has brought us together no matter our colour, job, size, bank balance or sexual preference...... our beloved fiestas now lets all hold hands and bow to our holy beloved our lord god, "Henry Ford"!!

lets show a little fiesta community spirit and put this thread to rest, i feel enough point's have been scored. lets all rejoice in the one thing we all have in common and has brought us together no matter our colour, job, size, bank balance or sexual preference...... our beloved fiestas now lets all hold hands and bow to our holy beloved our lord god, "Henry Ford"!!

Love It!