Commentary on Sections Schedule 10: Powers of community support officers
449.Paragraph 2 provides that a chief officer may designate PCSOs so as to give them the power to issue fixed penalty notices in respect of a number of cycling and traffic offences, including failure to comply with requirements about lighting and reflectors for bicycles, failure to comply with traffic signs or a traffic direction, carrying a passenger on a cycle, failing to stop for a police constable, driving the wrong way down a one-way street, sounding a horn when stationary or at night and for causing unnecessary noise, not stopping an engine when stationary, contravening a bus lane, opening a door so as to cause injury/danger, and stopping, waiting or parking at or near a school entrance. A chief officer may also designate the power to stop cyclists who have committed certain of these offences (paragraph 6). Before a chief officer designates powers in relation to the offence of stopping, waiting or parking at or near a school entrance, he or she must consult local authorities within the force area (paragraph 3).
450.Paragraph 4 provides that PCSOs may be designated so as to give them powers to seize and retain materials and information relevant to the investigation of a crime when lawfully on any premises within the police force area. This will be subject to the safeguards that PACE already applies to constables exercising this power, including protection for legally privileged material, a requirement to provide a record to the occupier of the premises, and provisions to allow photographs or copies of seized items to be made by or for the owner.
451.Paragraph 5 provides that PCSOs may be designated so as to give them powers under the House to House Collections Act 1939 to require house to house collectors to provide their name, address, signature and certificate of authority.
452.Paragraph 2 provides that a PCSO in London may be given the power to issue a fixed penalty notice for an offence under section 15 of the Local Authorities Act 2004 in respect of an offence under section 38(1) of the London Local Authorities Act 1990 or section 27 (1) of the City of Westminster Act 1999 of unlicensed street trading.