POLICE SHOULD GIVE PAUSE FOR THOUGHT BEFORE GIVING PCSO HANDCUFFING POWERS

2.43.10pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 12th May 2005

Commenting on the decision by British Transport police to issue Police and Community Support Officers with handcuffs to help detail suspects, London Assembly Liberal Democrat policing spokesperson, Graham Tope, said:-

"It appears that Police and Community Support Officers are now not only the eyes and ears of the police, but also their hands and feet.

"The Met has rightly been firmly against use of handcuffs by PCSO's which can cause serious damage when used by untrained people. British Transport police should pause for thought before allowing PCSOs to be given the authority to use handcuffs on suspects that they detain."

ENDS