Police Changes

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In the first ever elections, 41 new police and crime commissioners have been elected across England and Wales to give us a say when it comes to cutting crime in our areas. Is this the most significant change in policing since the 1829 Metropolitan Police Act? With this statement I will look into the idea of PCCs and the changes that it will make with the police and how the public have reacted to this new era of policing. I will look back to other significant changes within the polices history and how they have impacted the police and the public. When we look at some of the significant moments in the polices history we need to first look at the introduction of the Metropolitan Police otherwise known as the 'new police' in 1829, this was not…show more content…
Many PCSOs are also encouraged to take pro-active steps to build community relations with the public by visiting local places such as shops and schools. Some police officers also suggested that the public perceived that PCSOs were less busy than police officers and so had more time to listen to their concerns; again,vital to members of the public who wish to pass information. Findings from Home Office research has referred to PCSOs offender intelligence as brilliant and suggest that they often know more than the police by possessing intimate knowledge about offenders that can take months to build up, have knowledge of emerging problems and emerging trends (such as where youths are currently congregating or the location or drug dens). Police officers also acknowledge that PCSOs are the police officers eyes and ears. (Cooper 2006)." This shows the impact that the PCSOs have had within the police and how most of them regard them as an aid to what they have to deal with day to day. Also the public are seeing more police in the streets which they can interact and have a relationship with which is what Peel stared in 1829 and his view of "the public being the police and the police being the public" really stands out with PCSOs. Staying on the topic of PCSOs there has been talks about changing their role so that they will become the "first line of contact" for the public, going by the new title of local beat officer (LBO). This is something that has not been welcomed and has come under fire because people are scared that it will mean less police officers on the streets. "PCSOs have a great role, it's good they were brought in, they are part of the team, but they are not the team.

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