Community Support Officers

HC Deb 27 October 2003 vol 412 c116WS

Mr. Bryant

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the recruitment of community support officers. [134175]

Ms Blears

Last year 27 police forces made successful bids for a share of the £19.5 million fund which enabled them to recruit, train and deploy 1,222 Community Support Officers (CSOs). This year £41 million was made available to continue paying for these and to recruit a further 1,234 CSOs. We are on course to reach the target of 4,000 CSOs by the end of 2005–06.

Recruitment standards are set by individual forces but there is comprehensive Association of Chief Police Officers, (ACPO) guidance available to assist them.