[da_nolo]

never mind the title, only thing I could think of.

...anyways consider a volunteer security organization w/ police & community backing.

1. act in 'patrolling' city residential/commercial blocks by use of basic self defense laws/good Samaritan laws (as all citizens already follow) and cameras (available by the person or department under special qualifications or support through community & city's department).

main duty to report and record criminal activity
(benefit: potential cost benefits vs out weighing costs in surveillance such as cameras through out the city)


2. participate in other citizen jobs open to public within police department by requirements and qualifications. such as those who qualify may work w/ forensics or clerical work.

3. participate in recording 'small' violations such as parking, loitering, littering, misdemeanors, various listed felonies etc.

rules as follow for 'patrol' = must be recorded, must be documented/written, must be turned in w/in x amount of time since crime, must act as witness, anonymous participation and/or anonymous witness program, never allowed to use/carry weapons*, corruption involves loss of position/fine, lack of participation results in loss of position/fine, all persons be identified and recorded for records (as in background checks; drug tests; etc.)

* carry/use weapons may be determined by local considerations or apply to certain 'ranked' participants.

benefits to volunteering = available unmarked* discounts from local participating stores, available unmarked* discounts for national stores, resources in obtaining security guard card (which could expand duties or simply finding a job), resources in finding/learning/participating/etc. self defense courses and/or schools, discounts and/or 'opportunities' at local community colleges, possible resources or noted discounts in other fields (such as lower interest rate for mortgage).

*unmarked being that the discounts are not related to the volunteer work so when it is used, no one can identify them directly.


would this work?

[Cattty]

they already have these they are called police community support officers (PCSOs), they dont have power of arrest and are simply considered a joke to some communities.
not sure how well they work, maybe they work well in some areas....

[MancStudent098]

Yes it would work, it would work like this:

http://policerecruitment.homeoffice....al-constables/

[SpicyStrawberry]

We already have this in the form of PCSOs and Special Constables.

Special Constables have the same powers as ordinary police officers, but PCSOs do not.

[Steevee]

PCSOs are a waste, Special Constables are great.

I'd love to see more of a TA style drive for the Police force though.

[da_nolo]

(Original post by MancStudent098)
Yes it would work, it would work like this:

http://policerecruitment.homeoffice....al-constables/

That sounds just like a regular cop though, correct?
one who can arrest and such.



What about community based project where those participating can not arrest?

[MancStudent098]

(Original post by da_nolo)
That sounds just like a regular cop though, correct?
one who can arrest and such.

Special Constables have regular police powers when they're on duty

What about community based project where those participating can not arrest?

Well there's scheme's like this?: http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/c...reet-watch.asp

You seem to be suggesting something in between the two except where the members have far more power than most volunteer schemes, but way less accountability and training than specials. That doesn't seem like a great idea to me.

(Original post by Steevee)
I'd love to see more of a TA style drive for the Police force though.

I think the issue is that the TA is designed as a big standing force of people that can be drawn on in a crisis. Specials by contrast actually need to be out on the street to be helpful, so even though they aren't paid there are considerable resource demands from having them about (since they need regular amounts of training, kit admin etc but you only get 200hrs work a year out of them) for that reason most police forces don't seem to have or want a lot of them. Most of the police force sites I've seen tend to claim that they have a surplus of applicants.

[Steevee]

(Original post by MancStudent098)
Special Constables have regular police powers when they're on duty


Well there's scheme's like this?: http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/c...reet-watch.asp

You seem to be suggesting something in between the two except where the members have far more power than most volunteer schemes, but way less accountability and training than specials. That doesn't seem like a great idea to me.

I think the issue is that the TA is designed as a big standing force of people that can be drawn on in a crisis. Specials by contrast actually need to be out on the street to be helpful, so even though they aren't paid there are considerable resource demands from having them about (since they need regular amounts of training, kit admin etc but you only get 200hrs work a year out of them) for that reason most police forces don't seem to have or want a lot of them. Most of the police force sites I've seen tend to claim that they have a surplus of applicants.

Sorry, I didn;t make myself clear.

I'd like to see a big, TA style Police Force, seperate and alongside the existing Specials. For things like match days, to help with riots and so on, so we don't have to rely on busing in other Police forces from other counies. Although of course, there are a lot of issues surrounding such a scheme, professionalism, cost, security etc.

[MancStudent098]

(Original post by Steevee)
Sorry, I didn;t make myself clear.

I'd like to see a big, TA style Police Force, seperate and alongside the existing Specials. For things like match days, to help with riots and so on, so we don't have to rely on busing in other Police forces from other counies. Although of course, there are a lot of issues surrounding such a scheme, professionalism, cost, security etc.

I get the feeling the police themselves wouldn't want that, they were offered the Army back when the riots happened and they said no, presumably because they have the feeling (rightly or wrongly) that riot control is now a fairly specialised job. But it is an interesting idea, more along the lines of how the specials originated than what they are now.

[da_nolo]

(Original post by MancStudent098)
You seem to be suggesting something in between the two except where the members have far more power than most volunteer schemes, but way less accountability and training than specials. That doesn't seem like a great idea to me.

Yes. though I have really just explained generalized purpose and a means to generate activity.

perhaps I should have delved into what policies an organization may have in regards to operation and authority.

still unsure what total conditions for both groups are like - perhaps the idea that local communities may give some sort of support which may in turn may create an elevation in shop attendance.

otherwise it looks like you guys are rather peachy w/o concern.

[That Bearded Man]

(Original post by Cattty)
they already have these they are called police community support officers (PCSOs), they dont have power of arrest and are simply considered a joke to some communities.
not sure how well they work, maybe they work well in some areas....

[Steevee]

(Original post by MancStudent098)
I get the feeling the police themselves wouldn't want that, they were offered the Army back when the riots happened and they said no, presumably because they have the feeling (rightly or wrongly) that riot control is now a fairly specialised job. But it is an interesting idea, more along the lines of how the specials originated than what they are now.

It's an interesting point. The MP and a lot of infantry are actually trained in riot action the escelation avoidance due to work they have to do in theatre.

I think they didn't want the Army to be called in for other reasons. One, the political storm it would cause, add to that backlash from the morons who will start screaming about martial law and what not.