Nadia Naeem has been recruited as a Police Community Support Officer
Posted on 08/16/2007 10:10:01 AM PDT by Stoat
Nadia Naeem has been recruited as a Police Community Support Officer
A Muslim teenager has been named as one of the 'babies on the beat' as police community support officers.
The Daily Mail revealed on Monday how Thames Valley police were employing two 16-year-old schoolleavers as PCSOs.
Yesterday it emerged that the force also recruited three 17-year-olds, including Nadia Naeem, now 18, who wears the hijab.
All now have the power to detain and question suspects.
The Police Federation representing rank-and-file officers claims the teenagers, who are still legally children, will lack the maturity and life experience necessary to do a dangerous job.
It says PCSOs are recruited as cheap replacements for mainstream officers.
But Thames Valley police insist the teenagers have the necessary skills.
A spokesman said that "if you are good enough, you are old enough". Miss Naeem, from Bicester, Oxfordshire,
joined the force - which covers Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire - in February.
She patrols the town's East Neighbourhood zone along with four other PCSOs.
She is expected to issue penalty notices, pull over vehicles and carry out 'stop and search' procedures under terror laws.
At the time she was recruited, aged 17, she would have had the power to seize alcohol from anyone in the street despite being too young to drink herself.
According to one resident in her home town, she used to work in the local Tesco.
Community support officers were introduced in 2003 by then Home Secretary David Blunkett as a means of providing an extra reassuring presence on the street.
'Blunkett's Bobbies' have only a fraction of the training given to mainstream colleagues - an initial five-week course compared to 19 for regular police officers.
The teenage PCSOs have now been dubbed Blunkett's Babies.
Police Federation spokesman Metin Enver yesterday called for a minimum recruitment age for the civilian officers of 18, the same as for regular police officers.
He said: "What we are seeing in Thames Valley is chief officers and chief constables looking at ways to save money.
"By replacing sworn police officers with PCSOs we are not getting the level of maturity and expertise which local people-will quite rightly want and deserve.
"If someone does not have the level of expertise or maturity, especially in confrontational or aggressive situations, not only are they putting themselves at risk, but other members of public in danger."
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police refused to reveal who the other four young recruits are.
"We do not want to personalise this and turn the matter into a focus on these young people's competency to do the job," the spokesman said.
The 16-year-old boys work in Reading, Berkshire. It is believed the other two 17-year-olds are based in Oxfordshire.
Thames Valley PCSOs earn £17,000 £20,000, depending on their work hours. A full PC starts at £21,000, rising to £33,000.
At least five other forces are known to employ PCSOs under 18, or have admitted doing so in the past.
'Blunkett's Bobbies' have only a fraction of the training given to mainstream colleagues - an initial five-week course compared to 19 for regular police officers.
The teenage PCSOs have now been dubbed Blunkett's Babies.
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"By replacing sworn police officers with PCSOs we are not getting the level of maturity and expertise which local people-will quite rightly want and deserve.
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May God protect our dear British Friends, as it seems their Government is increasingly disinterested in doing so.
Police Ping
“We do not want to personalise this and turn the matter into a focus on these young people’s competency to do the job,” the spokesman said.”
Oh sure...heaven forbid competency has anything to do with the job...
HA! How many people will take off running when they see a muslim in a hajab running after them, thinking that it has something to do with a terrorist attack?
I got question would she handle question male victim or male robbery suspsect I don’t think so in Islam unmarried woman can’t be seem with man who not related to her
“May God protect our dear British Friends, as it seems their Government is increasingly disinterested in doing so.”
They need a Churchill and soon or else they will be a third world craphole under Sharia law come 2107.
What if someone steals a pig and it's her job to retrieve it?
Assuming she won't refuse to touch alcohol.
Perhaps Charles will show up...
Looks like Cindy Sheehan to me.
Great photo. LOL
Yeah you got me there LOL!
Yeah how about that or would she refuse question what you say infidel like Christian or Jewish Brit murder victim or perp I don’t think so
I have a question - are you not from this country? Are you still learning English? Just curious. If you ARE from this country, and DO know English - maybe you’d better re-read your posting, and re-post so that it makes sense? If you are NOT from this country and ARE learning English, I give you a pass. Thanks. :-)
Read her profile page, and BTW, your post bordered closely on rudeness.
17?
Ridiculous.
Britons.....REVOLT! Your government is killing you.
Just raise your hand.
Could be... that hajib looks ‘dingy’.
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