PCSOs, What Are They Good For?

[Baron99 790]

In the vacinity of the Peace Gardens last night, just after 8pm. Witnessed one of the street drinkers (can in hand) / professional beggers walking on the opposite side of Pinstone St, hurling general abuse at all & sundry.

 

10 mins later, he's back, this time with another scruffy mate, also with a can in hand, walking along Pinstone St on the Town Hall side, pair of them are now hurling abuse & threats at people waiting at the bus stops; leaning on the wall of the Peace Gardens & in the direction of of people Sat outside Browns.

 

These 2 guys were well over 6ft but never mind, a couple of PCSOs, (one about 5' 8", the other, 5ft nothing), were strolling up Pinstone St & bumped into them, still in full abuse, can swilling mode, just by Costa Coffee. Should be all sorted then?

 

Well after 10 second word, the 2 street drinkers just start hurling abuse at the PCSOs who are now shuffling away, shame-faced, hoping that nobody notices.

 

There are plenty of police knocking about on Barkers Pool. Why no call for back up to deal with a couple of highly aggressive drunks making threats? Fully it appears that this sort of behaviour is tolerated from certain individuals yet on a hot night in the city centre, the police will crack down on any pub or bar where customers stand outside with their drinks.

 

Also see the link: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/pollution-nuisance/anti-social-behaviour.html

[Daven 10]

Did you walk around the corner to Barkers Pool to tell the 'plenty of police' since all they were doing was 'knocking about'?

Edited August 5, 2018 by Daven

[donotremove 10]

Was anybody harmed at all by any of this?

[Martin C 81]

Even if no one is physically harmed this sort of behaviour is not acceptable and needs stamping down on.

 

If indeed there were plenty of police in and around Barker's Pool at the time the PCSOs should definitely have requested back-up.

[donotremove 10]

Even if no one is physically harmed this sort of behaviour is not acceptable and needs stamping down on.

 

If indeed there were plenty of police in and around Barker's Pool at the time the PCSOs should definitely have requested back-up.

 

Perhaps the PCSOs decided that they were better placed to prevent an escalation of this behaviour rather than stamping down on these individuals because they hurt somebody's feelings.

[redruby 279]

Was anybody harmed at all by any of this?

 

If you have a look at the link about anti social behaviour by baron99, it states that this is behaviour causing harassment, alarm and distress. I would say hurling abuse at passers by counts as this.

 

It seems like the pcso's are only interested in soft targets. I've seen this cowardly behaviour time and again in security staff in shops and at airports etc. It just makes for a nonsense of them being there.

[donotremove 10]

If you have a look at the link about anti social behaviour by baron99, it states that this is behaviour causing harassment, alarm and distress. I would say hurling abuse at passers by counts as this.

 

It seems like the pcso's are only interested in soft targets. I've seen this cowardly behaviour time and again in security staff in shops and at airports etc. It just makes for a nonsense of them being there.

 

Maybe the PCSOs exercised some judgement and decided that as nobody was being harmed then they were better placed being around in case a real crime occurred.

[The Moon 10]

Julie Dore and her council are loving all this. They're on a mission to bring Sheffield down and they're doing an excellent job. Sheffield has a lot of potential and I see the council doing nothing to make use of the potential, just a downhill spiral with the growth of low end shops. If it wasn't for the University there would literally be nothing about Sheffield. When there is no positive energy and industry and ideas at the top, ie at council level, then it is no surprise that its turning into pants on the ground, but nothing will change while the inbred voters keep voting in the same shower.

Edited August 5, 2018 by The Moon

[barnie41 29]

PCSOs were brought in to be part of the Police 'family'. They are employed to be visible and help to reduce anti social behaviour. If they aren't prepared to either deal with incidents like that, or provide a visible uniform presence until 'proper' cops turn up to deal then they are in the wrong job. Either do the job and look after the public or walk away and they become part of the problem. It really is that simple

[tinfoilhat 11]

Normally I'd be all "down with this sort of thing" but it was 8pm on a Saturday night not a Wednesday lunchtime. Were they picking their battles?

[donotremove 10]

Julie Dore and her council are loving all this. They're on a mission to bring Sheffield down and they're doing an excellent job. Sheffield has a lot of potential and I see the council doing nothing to make use of the potential, just a downhill spiral with the growth of low end shops. If it wasn't for the University there would literally be nothing about Sheffield. When there is no positive energy and industry and ideas at the top, ie at council level, then it is no surprise that its turning into pants on the ground, but nothing will change while the inbred voters keep voting in the same shower.

 

I fail to see how Julie Dore is responsible for a couple of people getting drunk and making nuisances of themselves in town.

 

A most extraordinary outburst...

[muddycoffee 10]

Maybe the "drunken gentlemen" were actually undercover detectives and the PCSOs received a codeword to not intervene as they were deeply embedded in a particular mission to capture lads beating up tramps or something ?