Commentary on Articles

Schedule 5: Powers and Duties of Community Support Officers

26.Schedule 5 refers to a new Schedule to be inserted as Schedule 2A to the 2003 Act detailing the powers and duties of community support officers. It relates to some of the powers and duties otherwise only available to police officers by way of designation to community support officers:

(a)

powers in relation to issuing fixed penalty notices for certain road traffic offences;

(b)

powers for acquiring name and address for relevant offences;

(c)

powers for acquiring name and address for certain road traffic offences;

(d)

powers to detain a person;

(e)

powers to confiscate alcohol at public processions and from young people;

(f)

powers for the confiscation of tobacco from young people;

(g)

powers for search and seizure of alcohol and tobacco;

(h)

powers to seize and retain controlled drugs;

(i)

powers of entry to save life or prevent serious damage to property;

(j)

power to enter and inspect licensed premises and to investigate licensing offences;

(k)

power to stop vehicles;

(l)

power to direct traffic and place traffic signs;

(m)

power to carry out road checks;

(n)

power to enforce cordoned areas;

(o)

power to stop and search vehicles in authorised areas; and

(p)

power to stop and search for prohibitive fireworks and request and inspect a record of

       sales of fireworks.