HC Deb 29 April 2003 vol 404 c353W
Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evaluation he has commissioned into the use of community support officers. [109523]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth

As a condition of their funding each of the 27 forces who currently have community support officers (CSOs) are required to provide an annual evaluation of their effectiveness to the Home Office.

In addition the six forces who are piloting the use of detention powers by CSOs are subject to a separate evaluation by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.