What powers DON'T they have, that normal PC's do?

Most importantly the Power of Arrest (Citizens Arrest can be used like any other MoP, but this is limited.

The power to search

A person

or vehicle unless im wrong

Well it's only under terrorist laws. The police reform act 2002 allows it, but individual forces and their policies may not:

PCSO's have the following powers in the MET:


Issue of Fixed Penalty Notices for public nuisance under Chapter 1 Part 1 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001
Issue of Fixed Penalty Notices for Dog Fouling, littering and riding on footpaths
Power to request a name and address for Fixed Penalty Offences and Offences that cause injury alarm and distress to another person or damage or loss of another's property
Power to Request the name and address of a person acting in an antisocial manner
Power to detain a person for up to 30 minutes pending the arrival of a constable (or to accompany that person to a police station with the person's agreement)
Power to use reasonable force to detain a person or prevent him from making off
Power to request a person to stop drinking in a designated public area and to surrender open containers of alcohol
Power to confiscate alcohol from Young Persons
Power to confiscate cigarettes and tobacco products from young people
Power of Entry to save life or limb, or to prevent serious damage to property
Power to seize vehicles used to cause alarm and distress
Power to require the removal of abandoned vehicles
Power to stop vehicles for the purpose of a road check
Power to maintain and enforce a cordoned area established under terrorism act
Power to stop and search vehicles and things carried by driver/passengers under terrorism act and things carried by pedestrians
Power to regulate traffic for the purpose of escorting abnormal loads
Power to stop a vehicle for emissions -*test*-('")ing

They also don't carry any protective equipment like Batons, Cuffs or C.S.

I'm fairly sure that BTP have given theirs cuffs

You are correct BTP PCSOs have cuffs

Some and that's SOME i've met don't have the power of commen sense.

The ones that do (that I've met) would be better placed in a PC's uniform and allowed to do it all, but it's cheaper to have PCSO's.

PCSO's with cuffs.........scary stuff.

Now now OBP at leat its not CS!!!

I know of a met PCSO who got kicked out after using this (in the wrong way) ...:



Yes ... a side handle for a torch .... WHY?

He obviously wanted to use his maglite as a baton

SAD git