Home Secretary Theresa May has announced plans to give more powers to police staff and volunteers.

The proposals, detailed last week, will now go out for consultation.

“The historic office of constable is at the very heart of the policing of England and Wales. Police officers across the country carry out a wide range of duties, keeping the public safe and ensuring justice for the most vulnerable members of society. We value the essential role they play, but they cannot do this on their own,” Mrs May said.

“Traffic wardens, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and other designated police staff have played a key role in policing our communities in recent years and we believe that they can play a greater role in the future, bringing new skills and expertise and freeing up police officers to concentrate on the core policing task that most requires their particular powers and experience.”

Jim Mallen, chairman of Bedfordshire Police Federation, has criticised the proposals.

“Having slashed our budgets and inevitably caused a reduction in officer numbers, it seems bizarre to me that the Government is now looking at giving more powers to police staff and volunteers to help close the gaps it has created,” says Jim.

“I think this just further undermines the office of constable and is an attempt to get policing on the cheap. The public wants to see more skilled and professional warranted police officers in their communities not a mix of different roles with varying powers.”

The proposals will:

  • enable chief officers to designate a wider range of powers on police staff and volunteers
  • create a list of ‘core’ police powers that would remain exclusive to police officers
  • take an order-making power to enable Parliament to add to the list of those ‘core’ powers
  • enable volunteers to be designated with powers in the same way as staff
  • adopt new titles for a changed support role and a new volunteer role; and
  • abolish the office of traffic warden under the Road Traffic Acts.

The consultation period ends on 31 October. Subject to the outcome, the Home Office intends to legislate for reform in the Policing and Criminal Justice Bill later this year.

Click here to read the consultation paper.

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