The Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) allows the police chief constable to give certain powers to people working in roles which help to improve community safety.
In Weymouth, we use the scheme as a uniformed patrolling presence to:
- tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) and disorder
- provide intelligence to the council and Dorset Police
- promote a safe and welcoming place for those who work, live and visit the town
Patrol officers have been granted certain powers for parts of Weymouth town. Their powers do not extend into other areas of Weymouth or other parts of Dorset.
Issues that patrol officers deal with
Our patrol officers generally deal with:
- anti-social street drinking
- youth nuisance
- begging
- littering
- dog fouling
- street based anti-social behaviour
- cycling on the promenade and pavements
- uncontrolled dogs
- helping vulnerable people, such as the elderly or those who are injured or ill
Patrol officers refer those who are homeless to services at The Lantern or Julian House.
What patrol officers can do
Dorset's police chief constable has granted Weymouth patrol officers the power to:
- require giving of name and address for:
- a) a relevant penalty notice offence
- b) offences under S3 and S4 of Vagrancy Act 1824
- c) an offence causing injury, alarm, distress to any other person or loss of, or any damage to, any other person’s property
- require name and address for anti-social behaviour
- require name and address for road traffic offences
- require persons aged under 18 to surrender alcohol
- seize tobacco from a person aged under 16
- stop cycles if they are suspected of having committed the offence of riding on a footpath
- control traffic for purposes other than escorting a load of exceptional dimensions and also for purposes of conducting a traffic survey
- photograph persons away from a police station who has been given a penalty notice
Our patrol officers have extra powers delegated by Dorset Council. These include:
- enforcing the ASB Public Spaces Protection Orders and Dog Public Spaces Protection Order
- issuing fixed penalty notices for dog fouling, littering and fly-tipping
- dealing with busking, peddling and street trading issues
Patrol officers cannot arrest or detain someone. Only warranted police officers have these powers. It is an offence to assault, resist or obstruct a patrol officer or anyone helping them while doing their job.
Penalty notices
Our patrol officers do not usually use enforcement as the first intervention. They engage with the person causing ASB to offer help and details of support services. If this fails and the ASB continues, patrol officers will use their delegated powers and those available under the Public Spaces Protection Order.
Patrol officers can issue a penalty notice (fine) for:
- behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress
- selling or attempting to sell alcohol to a person who is drunk
- supplying alcohol by or on behalf of a club to a person aged under 18
- selling alcohol anywhere to a person under 18
- buying or attempting to buy alcohol on behalf of a person under 18
- buying or attempting to buy alcohol for consumption on relevant premises by a person under 18
- delivering alcohol to a person under 18 or allowing such delivery
- trespassing on a railway
- throwing stones at a train
- consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises
- allowing consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises
- buying or attempting to buy alcohol by a person under 18
Patrol officer uniform
Our patrol officers wear a uniform that:
- is badged with Community Safety Patrol Officers on the front and back
- has a collar number issued by Dorset Police which is 4 digits starting with an 8
- has a police radio and body camera
Officers also carry an identification card which sets out the powers they are authorised to use.
Find out more about Community Safety Accreditation Schemes on GOV.UK.
How the scheme is funded
Weymouth CSAS officers are employed and managed by Dorset Council. They are part of our Community Safety Team.
The scheme is jointly funded by:
- Dorset Council
- Dorset Police & Crime Commissioner
- Weymouth Town Council
- Weymouth BID
- British Transport Police