A critical evaluation of current and future roles of police community support officers and neighbourhood wardens within the Metropolitan Police Service and London boroughs

Loveday, Barry; Smith, Richard

doi:10.1177/1461355715580913

Cited by 8 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The PCSOs take great pride in seeing their intelligence being disseminated to warranted colleagues. (Loveday and Smith 2015), p. 4).…”

Section: Government Cuts To Policingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The London killings of 2018: the story behind the numbers and some proposed solutions

Roberts¹

2019

Crime Prev Community Saf

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This paper examines the underlying issues behind the London killings of 2018 and considers some possible solutions. To do this, primary research has been undertaken with those involved in the violence, those charged with addressing it and those seeking a solution to this crisis. Violence among young people in the capital and elsewhere in Britain has been the focus of much media attention and academic discourse, some of which are examined here. In understanding the causes of the violence, it is, however, incumbent on us all to consider viable ways in which to address the issues behind the killings and identify possible solutions to the problems it creates in communities. The introduction, in January 2019, by the present Home Secretary of knife crime prevention orders appears to have aggravated the situation. Already known as Knife ASBOs (Guardian in Knife ASBOs won't cut crime, but the will harm vulnerable young people, https ://www.thegu ardia n.com/comme ntisf ree/2019/feb/01/knife-asbos-crime-young-peopl e-sajid-javid , 2019), these may simply criminalise a group of youngsters, sometimes as young as 11 or 12. Police are already able to tackle criminal behaviour among youngsters carrying knives through dispersal orders. This response by the Government has not addressed the root causes of the issue. As one respondent was to state: We have to find a way through this. It's killing us. Not just the kids who are killed: it's the people that get left behind. Something must be done to stop it.

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“…The PCSOs take great pride in seeing their intelligence being disseminated to warranted colleagues. (Loveday and Smith 2015), p. 4).…”

Section: Government Cuts To Policingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The London killings of 2018: the story behind the numbers and some proposed solutions

Roberts¹

2019

Crime Prev Community Saf

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…In London, the situation may well be different not least because of the level of intelligence collected by PCSOs deployed in many of the potentially most problematic communities. It has been recently argued that PCSO intelligence now provides the basis within the MPS for its daily intelligence briefings, and these are delivered to response and proactive police units across London (Loveday and Smith 2014). Here, the diverse backgrounds of PCSOs and their ready availability for visible patrol appear to significantly add to their intelligence function.…”

Section: Identifying the Value Of Local Policingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Police Scotland: challenging the current democratic deficit in police governance and public accountability

Loveday

2018

Crime Prev Community Saf

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This article considers the recent creation of Police Scotland and the substitution of local police forces for a national police service 'Police Scotland' in 2013. It assesses the drivers for change and the arguments presented by both politicians and police professionals in favour of the eradication of all 8 local Scottish forces and the creation of a single police force. It contrasts developments in Scotland with those in England and Wales where there has been a recommitment to local delivery of police services in which local police boundaries have been retained with the introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners. It considers the police boundaries and coterminosity with local authorities and highlights the absence of shared boundaries within Police Scotland. It reflects on the removal of local accountability in Scotland with the abolition of Police Boards and the creation of a national and unelected Scottish Police Authority. It highlights the significance of police planning led by senior officers from Strathclyde Police and the impact of this on Police Scotland. It raises legitimate questions as to the overall efficacy of a national force made answerable to a nationally appointed body, the Scottish Police Authority. Finally, it makes a number of recommendations which might go towards someway to reestablishing a degree of local accountability to communities and local governments in Scotland which is now so clearly absent.

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“…Within the Metropolitan Police Service it was discovered that operational police were very largely dependent on intelligence coming from PCSOs and which was provided by these officers on a 'daily basis'. Plans to eliminate PCSOs in London would, therefore, seriously undermine the intelligence platform of the entire Metropolitan Police Service (Loveday and Smith, 2015). The reduction in support staff and cuts, either implemented or contemplated at this time, raised questions about the motivation of senior managers prepared to contemplate these outcomes.…”

Section: Limitations To Police Force Re-engineering and Organizationamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Local neighbourhood policing began to break down as PCSO numbers dwindled and sworn officers were called to fill back-office jobs previously undertaken by civilian staff (UNISON, 2013). One chief officer referred to the increasing 'officerization' of police forces as sworn officers moved back from front-line duties and where workforce modernization had 'gone into reverse' (Loveday, 2015). As noted in their attempt to protect capacity, chief officers appeared to have undermined force capability.…”

Section: Limitations To Police Force Re-engineering and Organizationamentioning

confidence: 99%

Still plodding along? The police response to the changing profile of crime in England and Wales

Loveday

2017

International Journal of Police Science & Management

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This paper will consider the new demands placed on police forces arising from the dramatic increase in cases of fraud and cybercrime. It will assess the ability-or current inability-of the police to respond to this development. The paper will therefore be directed towards the growing requirement for substantial internal police reform that goes well beyond anything contemplated heretofore. The paper will draw on the recent and important HMIC PEEL Review of police efficiency which has for the first time raised the question of identifying not just police capacity but also police force capability. It is evident that while police forces are able to quickly identify police capacity [ranks and police numbers] they experience great difficulty in relation to capabilities. This in fact links in with the police response to the 'new' forms of crime which is now replacing acquisitive crime. The paper will seek to identify current police responses to this development and also highlight its inadequacy.

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A critical evaluation of current and future roles of police community support officers and neighbourhood wardens within the Metropolitan Police Service and London boroughs

Cited by 8 publications

References 4 publications

The London killings of 2018: the story behind the numbers and some proposed solutions

The London killings of 2018: the story behind the numbers and some proposed solutions

Police Scotland: challenging the current democratic deficit in police governance and public accountability

Still plodding along? The police response to the changing profile of crime in England and Wales

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