CPO's with HeadCam, at protests against deportation of Amdani Juma

Community Protection Officers (Warden). These are Nottingham City Council employees. Jointly funded by Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire Police. They have now replaced City Centre Wardens, Street Wardens, & Neighbourhood Wardens. They are under the direction of the Services Director for Community Safety, & Community Neighbourhood Protection Service of Nottingham City Council.

CPO's & PCSO's are 'badged' under the Community Safety Accreditation Schemes enable Chief Constables to designate limited powers to employees of organisations who contribute towards community safety. Accredited Persons (APs) are identified by a standardised badge.

The services are now developing Rapid Response Units (RRU) and in various pilots are now running experiments using video equipment mounted on the officers hat [HeadCam], thus making video recording [and audio] of a scene, designed they say, to deter anti-social behaviour and provide evidence suitable for prosecution in court, Evidence Gathering. Additionally of course, intelligence gathering.

People have noted that both CPO's & PCSO's not only have much reduced powers, compared to police officers, but also have a much more limited standard of training and are frequently unsure as to the extent of their powers!

As an example, check out this short video:

Current TV [Google Channel] You Can’t Picture This, Oh yes you can!
 http://current.com/items/88856223_you_can_t_picture_this

Their objective is policing on the cheap. [half-coppers, plastic policemen etc] The Police Federation is also against their introduction since they would obviously want more police. Also, sometimes they can create situations that 'proper' policemen are required to clear up the mess afterwards.

The council website says that they are to: "deal with a wide range of anti-social behaviour issues such fly tipping, graffiti, vandalism, fireworks, joy riding, quad bikes, abandoned cars etc." However, many activists feel that they frequently come into contact with these guys, while involved in lawful action and protest etc. exceeding their authority.

I have had an interest in watching the progress of these non-warranted officers for some time now. But I post this lot now because of their presence at the protest in the Market Square against the detention and imminent deportation of Amdani Juma, held on Monday 2nd June


Community Protection :: Protecting Nottingham’s communities
 http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/sitemap/services/policing_and_public_safety/communityprotectionofficers.htm

Neighbourhood Renewal Unit
 http://www.neighbourhood.gov.uk/page.asp?id=567

Community Protection Officers - Job description
 http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/community_protection_officer_job_description.

PCSOs are not police officers and they do not have the same powers, but they are employees of Nottinghamshire Police, they wear a uniform,

Police community support officers (PCSOs) Nottinghamshire Police
 http://www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/jobs/police_staff/police_community_support_officers_pcsos/

List of PCSO designated powers (pdf, 23kb)
 http://www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/uploads/library/224/PCSO%20designated%20powers.pdf

Accreditation Schemes - Home Office
 http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/police-reform/reform-programme/citizen-focus/community-safety-accredit-scheme

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ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email:  tash@indymedia.org
Member of the National Union of Journalists [No: 014345]
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"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
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