Thames Valley Police defends PCSO recruitment

Thames Valley Police has defended its decision to recruit two 16-year-olds and three 17-year-olds as police community support officers (PCSOs).

The force has come under heavy criticism from not only national press but also other forces across the UK. Lancashire, Northumbria, Sussex, Kent, Hampshire, Staffordshire, Cleveland and Durham were just some of the forces that do not support Thames Valley’s decision.

A spokesman from Lancashire force said: “A lot of work that PCSOs do is based on life experience, and when you are under 18 you do not have that much.”

A spokesperson from Northumbria said: “Part of their job is to seize alcohol from under 18s so it would be inappropriate for a 16-year-old to be in possession of something that they are not allowed to have.”

The Police Federation has also criticised the decision to recruit those under 18 years of age, claiming that as they are still legally children, they will, “lack the maturity and life experience necessary to successfully do the job”.

Metin Enver, a spokesperson for the Federation, has called for a minimum recruitment age of 18 for PCSOs, the same age limit that is a requirement for regular police officers.

“What we are seeing in Thames Valley is chief officers and chief constables looking for ways to save money. If someone does not have the level of expertise or maturity, especially in confrontational or aggressive situations, not only are they putting themselves at risk, but also the public,” said Mr Enver.

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis has also criticised the decision. “There are important ways for young people to contribute to their communities. But recruiting 16-year-olds to frontline policing puts them and those around them at risk. It defies common sense and speaks volumes about the government’s reckless approach to public safety,” he said.

However, Thames Valley Police has defended its decision, dismissing claims that it has recruited the teenagers in an attempt to boost figures to meet recruitment targets set by the government.

“To say this is an attempt to boost our numbers is ludicrous. There is no age limit, and these two recruits certainly possess the skills and abilities needed to do the job,” said Thames Valley Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Nick Gargan. “To turn them away because of age is no better than the force discriminating against people who are under 5ft 8in in height. We believe that if they are good enough, they are old enough.”

“We do not want to personalise this and turn the matter into a focus on these young people’s competency to do the job,” he said.