POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICERS.
 

Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) were introduced in 2002 as part of the Government’s Police Reform Act.

These Community Support Officer are civilian members of staff and wear uniform so they can be readily identified as being part of Hertfordshire Constabulary.

The PCSO’s assist in tackling some of the quality of life issues in local neighbourhood areas, they are dealing with minor incidents and anti-social behaviour, nuisance and many other concerns. This in turn contributes to the Constabulary’s aims of raising visibility and reassuring the public.

The details of the PCSO’s role, responsibility and powers are as follows:-
 

Role Purpose
 

• To be a visible uniformed representative of law and order.
• To provide public reassurance and to assist with the prevention of crime and disorder within the community.
   

Responsibilities
 

• To conduct high visibility uniformed patrol to prevent public disorder and nuisance, to respond to calls and requests for assistance from the public, to deal with anti-social behaviour thus minimising the risk to public safety.
• Enforcement of certain local bylaws and summary offences via fixed penalty tickets.
• To undertake minor crime investigation to include taking crime reports, short statements, elimination fingerprints and samples from victims of crime.
• To work with relevant bodies and local authorities to build and maintain community relationships and partnerships.
• To prepare and submit written statements of evidence and to attend court to support prosecutions where necessary.

Examples of duties that Police Community Support Officer’s can undertake:
 

• High visibility patrols
• To gather intelligence from the local community
• The issue of fixed penalty notices in respect of:-

           Cycling of the footpath
           Anti-social behaviour
           Dogs fouling
           Litter

• Deal with lost and found property
• Deal with issues related to public nuisance;
  Litter
  Confiscation of alcohol and tobacco from juvenile
• Initial scene preservation
• Taking basic crime reports where no further investigation is required e.g. Theft, Criminal Damage
   

Community Team Contact Details

The Police Community Support Officers at Stevenage can frequently be seen using public transport and walking around and about all the local neighbourhood areas.
They are more than happy to discuss any issues the public may have within their areas.