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Consultation on Standard Powers for Community Support Officers

The Government White Paper 'Building Communities, Beating Crime', which was published in November 2004, contained a commitment to introduce a set of minimum powers for community support officers (CSOs). Under the Police Reform Act 2002 chief constables have the power to designate CSOs a range of powers. At present, this means that CSOs in different forces can use some, all, or occasionally none of the powers. However there are significant drawbacks to the current situation. The public have no way of knowing what the powers of CSOs are from one force to the next. This is confusing and disorientating, and leads many members of the public to think that CSOs have no powers at all. Also, it means that in some forces CSOs do not have sufficient powers to play a full part in neighbourhood policing and have a role more similar to that of wardens. For these reasons the Home Office think that it is sensible to standardise the powers designated to CSOs and intend to legislate for a set of standard powers at the earliest opportunity.

Title: Consultation paper on standard powers for Community Support Officers and a framework for the future development of powers
Author: Home Office
Number of pages: 10
Date published: August 2005
Availability: View consultation paper

Questions to consider

• What is your understanding of the role of CSOs? What do you expect CSOs to do?

• Do you agree that greater standardisation of CSO powers is desirable? If you do agree, confirm why. If you think it is a bad idea, please give reasons and/or cite evidence for your view.

• A robust set of standard powers would include the majority of CSO powers but your ideas on which powers should be usefully included in a set of standard powers are welcomed. A list of current CSO powers is at the bottom of this page for reference.

• Which powers do you believe are essential for all CSOs to have to enable them to contribute to neighbourhood policing?

• If, based on operational experience, you believe there are further powers that would help CSOs contribute to neighbourhood policing more effectively in your area, please submit your ideas.

• The Home Office is also exploring a variety of options that would lead to greater public understanding of the powers of CSOs. In particular they welcome your views on publishing powers on individual force websites and/or grouping CSO powers in some way. Would this be useful? Do you have any other suggestions?

• Community Safety Accreditation can also play a central part in neighbourhood policing. If you have ideas for further powers that would add to the effectiveness of accredited persons in your area, they would also be glad to hear your ideas.

The shape of a set of standard powers

The Home Office is also asking for your views on this set of principles.

• All CSOs should have key enforcement powers that allow them to take action against anti-social behaviour, in particular the power to require name and address;

• Alcohol is a serious problem throughout the country and all CSOs should be able to take measures in the neighbourhoods they patrol to minimise the damage that it causes, therefore powers to deal with alcohol abuse should be included in a set of standard powers.

• CSOs have a critical role to play in neighbourhood policing and it is important that they have sufficient powers to play a full role as part of neighbourhood policing teams.

Getting a copy

The full consultation paper and covering letter are available on the Home Office website.

Responding to the consultation

Comments on the issues raised in the consultation paper should be addressed to:

or emailed direct to: csopowers@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Existing powers

Last update: Monday, August 04, 2008