More of a WWYD - inappropriate behaviour from community support officers?

[dreamofstrawberriesandcream]

Yesterday I was walking the dog when I bumped into a friend. We were standing talking when we heard some very loud shouting. A man was standing in his doorway talking to two female Community Support Officers. The gist appeared to be that someone had complained about him and he was irate, but not actually angry or abusive.

However, one of the CSOs was really wound up and angry, calling him a "fat bastard" and telling him to "get a job, get a job." At one point, both of them walked back towards their car (which was a police car) - the man said something like, "Oh, go and arrest some proper criminals!" and the woman walked back in a really confrontational way and was shouting "Say that again! Say it again, fat bastard!"

Um - AIBU to think this is completely unacceptable? I appreciate it must be a hard job and the man didn't exactly do himself any favours but all the same - I am a teacher and wouldn't dare speak to a child like that (not that I would anyway, but I would lose my job.)

Should I complain, and who should I complain to?

You need to ask if you should complain about this??

Honestly, I despair.

How did you cope before the birth of internet forums?

Thank you DressDown

Worra - no need to be rude.

Sometimes what is glaringly obvious in black and white print can feel a lot more jumbled and strange when it's you who lives through it, as it were. I did wonder yesterday if I had dreamed it.

You were absolutely right to report it. Paid or not they can't go around behaving like that, they are a disgrace.

Sorry, that did sound rude I know.

But seriously, it really is a no brainer.

Yes, it is written down, I agree - but I had my not-so-darling brother insisting I should leave it, and just general exhaustion (hence thinking I'd dreamed it) - sometimes it's easy to make decisions for others.

Besides, otherwise what would be the point to AIBU?

Actually, I think you'll be doing the guy a great favour.

He probably feels that if he complained, he might not be believed...but if someone in authority contacts him about it, he might be very grateful that a member of the public came forward.

I hope so, worra - I am a fairly laid back person as a general rule but I'd have been so upset and angry had I been on the receiving end of this. The woman was absolutely vicious.

I'm glad you've complained. This kind of behaviour is why so many people think the police are unprofessional wankers and it's all too often tolerated and then complained about in closed circles. And so the behaviour proliferates.

dream - you have done the right thing to make an official complaint. The Police will be annoyed with the PCSOs (rather than with you for making the complaint).
Those 2 PCSOs were unprofessional & showed poor self-discipline.

Having that attitude & upsetting people who may be unstable puts the Police in general at more risk of attack while on duty. It also potentially damages the relationship between the Police & local people.

Our PCSO is the biggest drip on the planet, I can conceive him shouting at anyone.

Of course complain! freddos they may be volunteers but they are volunteers who are trusted to deal with some of the most vulnerable member os our society!

My mother made a complaint about a neighbour harrassing her and she had a community support officer take the details...imagine if he had been a twat like that one the OP saw! He was in fact very proffesional and thank God!

Oh have you done it OP? WELL DONE! NOBODY in a position of trust should be allowed to do this!

Imagine if it were a volunteer at a retirement home! I KNOW it's a CSO BUT they still have to deal with the innocent as well as the baddies...they need to know what is appropriate. If my child had witnessed what to all intents and purposes would have been a polie officer in her eyes, shouting and swearing ...well then her view of the police would be ruined!

They are NOT volunteers

It's a paid job and there are many, many application procedures and training to go through.

My DH applied years ago and got through the first 3 rounds of applications...the only reason he didn't go for the training and accept the job was because he got offered a better one.

Oh right! Well even if they WERE volunteers it wouldn't matter...paid or not they're still in positions of trust aren't they? Shocking behaviour!

You're right yes...it's really crap behaviour and actually something they themselves could be arrested for really.

I'm glad you reported them. Very very very bad idea to have people with attitudes like that in the police service - even if they are PCSOs and not fully sworn officers. Needs stamping on before they do some real damage - escalating situations is not helpful and could mean if there's another time this guy is involved with the police, he starts off angry and things escalates.

Btw, someone on the thread said PCSOs have the same powers of arrest as fully sworn officers - surely that's not right? Isn't that the whole point of real police officers - that they get powers beyond those held by the general public?

pay

Just had a nosy at the Met police website - didn't give me an immediate answer about PCSO powers but did say they do jobs that don't require the full powers carried by police officers. So I suspect that they do not have any more right to arrest anyone than the general public - any of us can carry out a citizen's arrest, in theory, although you'd have to be pretty brave/persuasive to try it.

edam you're right.

The only power of arrest they have is a citizens arrest...the same as you or I.

Obviously though they can hold people in a legal fashion and radio the 'normal' police to come straight away.

PCSOs powers vary by area. In London: www.met.police.uk/pcso/pcso_powers.htm

interesting phrasing that they can 'require' someone to remain with them. What does that mean, exactly? I can 'require' British Gas to turn up on time, doesn't mean they will!

TheHouseOnTheCorner - on your point of them having to deal with the innocent as well as the baddies.....

They are PCSOs,and not judge and jury.

Boot on other foot and I could see a fixed penalty fine issued under S5 of Public Order Act,as Worra pointed out.

I am sure the recipient of this tirade will be heartened by the fact that other people do give a fuck and it may well make a real difference to him being believed and something being done,should he also have complained.

Well done OP.I hope something is done.