According to 'The Telegraph' West Midlands police said it had ordered 80 cardboard constables at a cost of just over £10,000. In Derbyshire, £6,650 was spent over the past two years on a "substantial number" of cut-outs.

"The theory is that it creates the impression at first glance of a capable guardian being on site, which hopefully also reduces the perception of fear of crime," said a Derbyshire police spokesman. A survey using the Freedom of Information Act revealed that 13 forces in England and Wales have used cardboard officers.

Rank-and-file officers, however, questioned the wisdom of spending police funds on fake officers. Simon Reed, vice-chairman of the Police Federation, said: "While I appreciate that money may be tight for policing, this does seems a drastic solution to avoid paying any salary and pension costs. "Ultimately it will be for local residents to decide if cardboard police officers work for their community and are good use of their taxes."

Our plainclothes PCSnOw Watch officers will be out duty in your neighbourhood until the cold weather warms up.

 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/4410417/Police-spend-20000-on-cardboard-officers.html