A police force has come under fire over plans to take PCs off the streets and replace them with community support officers in a move that would spell the end for the "bobbie on the beat". Police Community Support Officers are to become the "first line of contact" for members of the public and rebranded as local beat officers, under proposals being considered today by South Yorkshire Police Authority.
Regular officers will be grouped into "taskable teams" available for dealing with serious incidents while all grassroots work on the street will be carried out by the PCSOs.
The civilian staff were mocked as "plastic policemen" when they were introduced by Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett ten years ago as a cheaper alternative to warranted officers, though supporters said they provided a reassuring uniformed presence. Read More
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