PCSO presence hits all time high

A record number of police community support officers are now patrolling streets of east Berkshire.

The role of the PCSO has only existed in recent years but the number employed in the area has now reached 90, which includes 30 in Windsor and Maidenhead, 37 in Slough and 23 in Bracknell.

The premise of the PCSO is to provide a higher force visibility in communities and to tackle lower level crime such as disorder, nuisance and anti-social behaviour, giving regular officers to concentrate on more serious crimes and incidents.

A PCSO does not have the powers to arrest, but has the abilities such as issuing fixed penalty notices for cyclists on paths, dog fouling and litter dropping. They can seize alcohol from people in designated no drinking areas along with alcohol and tobacco from under-age youths, and carry out roads checks.

Thames Valley Police said: "PCSOs are a vital part of the wider Thames Valley Police family. They are uniformed, highly visible members of police staff whose role is to support the work of regular police officers working within a community."