Having called the Home Secretary into question in my last view over the three year deal that was never tabled I could perhaps believe that she is a visitor to the site and an avid reader of the views on it. In the last few weeks it appears that she has popped down to Leatherhead and tabled a three year.

Whilst this is not the most fantastic deal in the world, the most important aspect in my view is that we remain in PNB and have for the time being staved off the threat of a pay review body and the unfriendly awards that would have been likely to deliver. However we must not drop the ball. The campaign for binding arbitration must continue to make sure that we are never in the same position again. We do not want to enter into a protracted debate about this so let's hope that now the dust is settling the Home Office will see sense and agree to binding arbitration.

Having settled pay Jackie Smith lurches towards another subject that has previously been discussed on these pages CSO'S and the announcement that she intends to standardise their uniform and increase their powers.

If we are to be saddled with the concept of CSO's then I am all for standardising their uniform so long as they look nothing like Police officers. Perhaps a red jacket would easily identify them to the confused public, along with the local and national press. We have had reports in recent months of Police officers giving Nazi style salutes and even a Police officer relieving himself in a patrol car whilst on duty. Neither of these incidents involved Police officers but both were CSO's. Even a red top tabloid calls them plastic Bobbies. What ever they are and what ever there role they are not Bobbies.

As for increasing their powers is there really a need for this, they already have many powers including confiscating alcohol from persons in designated places and from under-18s, Seizing tobacco from under-16s, seizing drugs and Stop and search in an authorised area under the Terrorism Act 2000 to name but a few, along with these CSO's can already detain people for a short time pending the arrival of a Police officer. Where is the evidence that these power needs to be extended?

Come to think of it where is the evidence around any of the things that they do.

If we put Police officers back on the beat and into the communities they already have the powers and skill set to deal with a whole host of incidents including those that CSO's can do and lots more.

We do not need and I believe that the public do not want a two tier Police service.



Paul Deller
Chairman Constables Branch Board
Metropolitan Police Federation