PCSOs also take part in missing person enquiries, i.e. handing out leaflets and checking the areas they patrol

Right so that's three things they do, well worth the money.........NOT!!

That money could be used for a hell of alot of other things, isn't that right Dick

Like my overtime budget

Its terrible Dick your so underappreciated, well one behalf of the members of wwp we appreciate you

Sorry to add guys.

Been offered position as a Leicestershire traffic PCSO starting in september. AND it looks like i'll be behind the wheel as I need to get a force driving permit for what are currently marked PCSO vauxhall afiras complete with blues for some unknown reason (Rather a bike so I can lose some weight!)

I look forward to taking all your day to day abuse

from my work exp i believe that most PCSOs have access to MARKED police vehicles and use them for A - B driving. The blue lights will only be used when stopped for guarding a scene etc.

I'm not going to abuse you...Good luck

Finaly what exactly do traffic PCSOs do? Are they like traffic wardens?

They're PCSOs with all the usual powers but they also carry traffic wardens powers and a few extras. Just to be a bit more of a diverse role than simply walking the streets.

I'll leave the abuse in the capiable hands of the one and only OBP

Sarge, you are too kind

So are some forces geting rid of traffic wardens and replacing them with traffoc PCSOs?

Our force only employs traffic wardens at the airport, they are a dying breed

Leicester have a mix of both and i've seen both patrolling together in the past.

With the "decriminalisation" of parking offences police are seeing a major reduction in traffic wardens due to councils taking on the role of on street enforcement.

All "decriminalisation" means is that its still illegal to park wrongly but instead of getting a fixed penalty notice from the police (enforceble by magistrates court if not paid and hence a criminal matter), you get a civil Penalty Charge Notice issued by the council (or an unscrupulous private company on their behalf), and non payment equals a visit from the bailiffs!

When this happened in Northampton, they kept on 2 of the police wardens who just dealt with moving traffic offences, zigzag and school line offences and untaxed vehicles. They went from being public enemy no.1 to eveyones best mate, with all the new anger directed at 13k a year council wardens!

The strange one i came across was Thames Valley. Dunno if anyone on the forum is from within, but their traffic wardens wear white topped caps with the black/yellow diced band and traffic warden wording on their uniforms is in silver.

Don't know if i'm correct, but wasn't there something about all their uniform badges having to be in yellow? also, that was the first time i'd seen one with the traffic type cap not the standard black top one. He was definitely Thames Valley and not council.