Demoralised Police Sent on Litter Patrols to Hit Corporate Revenue Collection Targets

Police have been ordered to go on litter patrol in a bid to boost the number of people nicked for minor offences.
Officers will be forced to ditch their uniforms and go out undercover in plain clothes in an attempt to hit performance targets.
However cops are furious over the move - because they don't even have the powers to issue on-the-spot-fines.
Instead, they will have to radio a PCSO - a lower ranking officer - to attend the scene to slap the offender with a £50 to £80 penalty.

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Blunkett's Bobbies 'Solve Less Than One Crime Every Four Years'

Police Community Support Officers solve less than one crime every four years, according to official figures. Several of the forces who provided figures to a Freedom of Information request - in Gwent, Bedfordshire and Leicestershire - admitted that their PCSOs failed to detect a single crime in the year.

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Now that's real value for money!!!

Plastic Police To Be Given Powers Of Detention By Jaqui Smith

The so-called 'Blunkett's bobbies' will be given extended powers, including being able to detain suspects, under plans unveiled yesterday.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith wants to give police community support officers (PCSOs) the power to hold a criminal until a police officer arrives, impose fines for graffiti and disperse troublemakers.
The proposals alarm critics who believe that PCSOs – also dubbed plastic police – have been brought in to provide policing on the cheap.

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