full list of PCSO powers - Kent Police

Not to be taken as proof of identityKent Police CommunitySupport OfficerDesignation CardA guide to the powers, rules ofengagement and uniform requirementsfor Police Community Support Officers(PCSOs) in KentPCSO powersAccredited Kent Police Community Support Officers(PCSOs) may exercise the following powers when on duty,under the authority of the Chief Constable of Kent andPart 4 of the Police Reform Act 2002.Not to be taken as proof of identity

Powers to issue penalty notices• Power to issue penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) for:- consumption of alcohol by a person aged under 18, or allowing such consumption- buying or attempting to buy alcohol by a person aged under 18- drinking in a designated public area- breach of a fireworks curfew- throwing a firework- truancy*- an excluded pupil found in a public place.*• Power to issue a fixed penalty notice (FPN) for:- cycling on a footpath.• Power to issue a local authority fixed penalty notice (FPN) for:- dog fouling, offences under dog control orders, littering, graffiti and fly posting.*Powers to deal with anti-social behaviour• Power to deal with begging.• Power to disperse groups and remove people aged under 16 to their place of residence.*• Power to photograph a person who has been arrested, detained or given a fixed penaltynotice away from the police station.• Power to request the name and address of a person acting in an anti-social manner.Powers to deal with drugs, alcohol and tobacco• Power to search for alcohol and tobacco.• Power to request a person to stop drinking in a designated public area and to surrenderopen containers of alcohol.• Power to confiscate alcohol from people aged under 18.• Power to seize unconcealed drugs or drugs found when dealing with alcohol or tobaccorelatedoffences, and to request the name and address of the person carrying them.• Power to confiscate cigarettes and tobacco products from people aged under 16.Powers to deal with vehicles and traffic• Power to stop a pedal cyclist riding on a footpath.• Power to seize vehicles used to cause alarm and distress under section 59 of the PoliceReform Act 2002.• Power to require the removal of abandoned vehicles.• Power to control traffic for any purpose other than escorting a load of exceptionaldimensions.• Power to request the name and address of a person who fails to follow the directions of apolice officer or PCSO under sections 35 and 37 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.• Power to place and maintain traffic signs under section 67 of the Road Traffic RegulationAct 1984.• Power to stop vehicles for the purpose of a road check as authorised by a policesuperintendent, under Section 4 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

• Power to stop and search vehicles and items carried by drivers or passengers, or itemsbeing carried within an area authorised by a police superintendent, under section 47A ofthe Terrorism Act 2000.Powers to deal with other issues• Power to remove a person aged 16 or under who is caught truanting to a designated place.*• Power to enter premises to save life or prevent serious damage to property.• Power to maintain and enforce a cordoned area under Section 36 of the Terrorism Act 2000.* In Kent, these powers may only be used by PCSOs as part of a co-ordinated andplanned operation.Requesting a person’s name and addressPCSOs have the power to request the name and address of a person in the followingcircumstances:• Power to request a name and address where a PCSO has reason to believe that a relevantoffence has been committed, including:- a fixed penalty offence (as listed above)- an offence involving injury, alarm or distress- an offence involving loss or damage to property (ie offences involving thefts, assaults,criminal damage or harassment).• Power to request a name and address where a PCSO has reasonable belief that a personis, or has been, acting in an anti-social manner.Offences against a PCSOIt is an offence to:• assault, resist or wilfully obstruct a designated PCSO from carrying out their duty• fail to give your name to a designated PCSO when required to do so• impersonate a designated PCSO.Under the Police and Criminal Justice Act 2006, and Section 42 of the Police Reform Act2002, this card must be produced on request when exercising designated powers.Ian LearmonthChief Constable, Kent Police

Rules of engagementThe rules of engagement govern all interventions (including the exercise of powers) anddraw on risk assessments. Initial deployment will be risk assessed within a frameworkof guidance, as set out by Kent Police. PCSOs will then carry out a further dynamic riskassessment, where appropriate.The decision by a PCSO to withdraw, observe and report is a valid tactical option and will besupported by managers.There is no positive duty for PCSOs to intervene – they are police staff, not police officers.As a representative of a public authority, a PCSO’s actions will support the human rights ofindividuals. Actions will be Justified, Authorised, Proportionate, Auditable and Necessary(JAPAN).UniformKent’s Chief Constable has approved the use of the following PCSO uniform:• Black trousers• Blue wicking shirt with identification insignia clearly visible• Blue epaulettes with PSCO and officer number for use on all uniform• Approved body armour may be worn with utility belt or load vest• Utility belt/load vest must display force number and should be worn over fleece but underhigh-vis jacket• Black fleece must be worn with hat over body armour and under utility belt/load vest• Yellow high-vis jacket can be worn for safety but must cover utility belt/load vest• Black flat cap (male officers) or black bowler hat (female officers) must be worn in public• Approved Kent Police cycle helmet and high-visibility cycle wear• Footwear should consist of plain black shoes or boots with black or navy socks.An approved Kent PCSO badge, bearing the officer’s rank and name/force number, must beclearly displayed on operational uniform at all times.For full uniform guidance, refer to force policy M99.Contacting Kent PoliceFor non-urgent crime reports or enquiries call 101.In an emergency, call 999.If deaf or speech impaired, text ‘police’ and your message to 60066.For news, advice or details of neighbourhood policing in Kent visit www.kent.police.ukWrite to: Kent Police Headquarters, Sutton Road, Maidstone, Kent ME15 9BZ.