Today started as a routine day for me.
Checking the force system for any jobs that are of relevance to my role, checking my emails, and attending the shift briefing.
Another day on solo patrol for me, not sure where the media stories of 3 man pcso patrols come from....I could do with that support at times.
The day went by at a steady speed but with very little happening.
I decided to take the time to carry out some key point policing and be seen around the local shopping centres, transport links and schools.
It was during this patrol that I popped into the local borders store and was advised that a local youth had been in and stolen some sweets.
I viewed the cctv footage and positively identified the offender, seized the cctv tape and made a written note of the witness details. I then contacted the control room in order to create an incident for which a Police Officer would need to attend to obtain crime details.
Once the job was assigned to an officer, I contacted the officer via the force radio and arranged to meet up with them beforehand back at the 'nick'.
I then proceeded to review the cctv tape in his presence to confirm the identity of the offender. I was then able to begin looking for the offender whilst out and about, whilst the PC took statements.
Whilst near the offenders home address I seen him walking into another of the local shops.
One radio call later and a Police Officer arrived to arrest him for shoplifting.
It doesn't end their......As I was about to enter the patrol car to help escort the offender to the cells, a friend of his came staggering up the street and narrowly missed falling into the flow of traffic.
When we stopped her to check on her welfare, we were quite suprised when some of the stolen sweets fell from her pockets, an arrest for handling stolen goods.
Whilst transporting the friend to the cells it became apparent that she had taken heroin and valium. As a result of this she could not open her eyes or lift her head.
She was subsequently de-arrested and escorted to the local hospital and passed into there care.
Once we had returned to our local area I resumed solo foot patrol and my PC colleague returned to borders to obtain his statement.
Within minutes a call came in for youths causing trouble outside of a local off licence, and that the shopkeeper would like them moved on.
Being a non confrontational pcso this type of job is what we deal with everyday, antisocial behaviour.
Upon arrival at the shop it became apparent that the Asian shopkeeper had been assaulted by 2 males who had then trashed part of his shop.
As bad as it sounds, yet again a PCSO had to radio for a PC to attend.
I reviewed the cctv and identified the offenders before obtaining there direction of travel.
As two Patrol cars pulled up, I directed one in the direction that the offenders had headed, and joined the pc in the second car to head towards the offenders home address.
As we turned into a side street we saw a group of youths, one of which was a male with no top on and blood on his knuckles....Result.
We both jumped out of the car and grabbed him, my colleague handcuffed him and passed him to me to get him into the back of the car.
As my colleague chased the remaining offender he was able to direct the second patrol to his position and safely apprehend the offender.
Job done, and another escort detail in the patrol car.
Then it was back on high visibility patrol for an hour before the end of my shift.
Local PCSO
