Teenage bobbies

[AB Asks]

Some police forces have admitted to hiring 17-year olds as community support officers. These recruits are too young to join the force but do have other powers such as searching people, detaining people and taking names and addresses. What do you think? Is the Government trying to police on the cheap? What kind of repercussions could this have? Are these 'babies on the beat' going to be taken seriously?

[Reverandfunk]

17 is too young, no experience of life should be at least 21 imo.

Personally I think it is policing on the cheap.

[johnlambert]

Well done AB Asks
I posted something similar yesterday http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question44 2662.html
Do try to keep up!!

[China Doll]

I'm just checking to see if my user name is working.... don't mind me...

[sp1814]

The minimum age for joining the army is 16.5 years (although they "cannot take part in operations until they turn 18").

I suppose if young men can fight, kill and die for their country, they can arrest drunks and attend to burglary victims.

I assume they wouldn't be given duties beyond their capabilities.

[Reverandfunk]

Fair point SP but if a 17 year old is faced with a drunk, abusive, mad etc person would they be able to handle it?

[Kromovaracun]

It depends. I don't think it's fair to generalise and guess that all 17 year olds wouldn't. After all, if they couldn't would they:

- Apply for it at all?
- Be accepted?

Plus one must bear in mind the kind of training they'll likely receive. The only problem I can see with it is that they're (if AB Asks is correct) being hired before it's legal to do so - other than that, I don't see what's wrong with it. I certainly wouldn't apply for it, but it could well appeal to someone else.

[Lady Muck]

Save the China Doll!

[Gromit]

The Huddy Police uniforms are snazzy my label

[dot.hawkes]

my son'r mate has joined this way and it is giving him a great idea of what he can expect if he passes all the training. I am sorry but the police have always recruited young people as far as i am aware, my great great grandad William Twidle joined the Sheffield Constabulary in the early 1860s and then transferred to Lincolnshire before he was 20. He died aged 32 of meningitis. he had been a ************* from the age of 14 too, the weather i think contributed to his general ill health. it must have been a tough job then and quite poorly paid, they even deducted some of his wages for losing an overcoat whilst on night duty. maybe he didn't have to face the crimes they face now, but he was still only a young lad all the same.

[dot.hawkes]

why star out 'night watchman?' oh i see, tut.

[sp1814]

I 'spose it's easy to view all 17 years olds as 'inexperienced kids' but there are some teenagers who have a greater 'life experience' than people ten years older than they are.

I say 'bravo' to any young man or woman joining the police. I know I don't have the personality or social skills to do the job and admire anyone who does.

[rojash]

"I assume they wouldn't be given duties beyond their capabilities." That's a good one, sp1814. It seems to me that most police duties are beyond the capabilities of most policemen, regardless of age.

[Gromit]

The job would require detailed local knowledge.

Does this mean they can go straight from their paper round to patrolling on the beat?