1

The chief officer of police of any police force may designate a relevant employee as either or both of the following—

a

a community support officer;

b

a policing support officer.

1A

The chief officer of police of any police force may designate a police volunteer as either or both of the following—

a

a community support volunteer;

b

a policing support volunteer.

6B

The powers and duties that may be conferred or imposed on a person designated under this section are—

a

any power or duty of a constable, other than a power or duty specified in Part 1 of Schedule 3B (excluded powers and duties);

b

where the person is designated as a community support officer or a community support volunteer, any power or duty that is described in Schedule 3C as a power or duty of a community support officer or community support volunteer.

6C

The Secretary of State may by regulations amend Part 1 of Schedule 3B so as to add to the list of powers and duties specified in it.

6D

Part 2 of Schedule 3B makes provision about the application of legislation in relation to powers or duties of a constable that may be exercised or performed by a person designated under this section.

6E

Any power or duty of a constable that is conferred or imposed on a person designated under this section by a chief officer of police of a police force may (subject to provision included in the designation under subsection (6F)) be exercised or performed by the person—

a

in the area of that police force, and

b

in any cases or circumstances in which it could be exercised or performed by a constable who is a member of that force.

6F

A designation under this section may provide that any power or duty of a constable that is conferred or imposed by the designation may be exercised or performed by the person designated—

a

in such areas outside the area of the police force in question as are specified in the designation (as well as within the area of the police force);

b

only in such parts of the area of that police force as are specified in the designation;

c

only in cases or circumstances so specified.

7A

A police volunteer authorised or required to do anything by virtue of a designation under this section —

a

shall not be authorised or required by virtue of that designation to engage in any conduct otherwise than while acting as a police volunteer;

b

shall be so authorised or required subject to such restrictions and conditions (if any) as may be specified in the designation.

9A

The chief officer of police of a police force must ensure that no person designated by the chief officer under this section is authorised to use a firearm, within the meaning given by section 57(1) of the Firearms Act 1968, in carrying out functions for the purposes of the designation.

9B

However, subsection (9A) does not apply to—

a

the use of a weapon, designed or adapted for the discharge of either of the following substances, for the purpose of discharging either of those substances—

i

the substance, commonly known as “CS spray”, that is produced by the use of 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile;

ii

the substance, commonly known as PAVA spray, that is produced by the use of pelargonic acid vanillylamide;

b

the use of a weapon for a purpose specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State;

c

the use of a weapon of a description specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State, whether generally or for a purpose so specified.

9C

A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (6C) or (9B)(b) or (c) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

12

In this section, “police volunteer” means a person who is under the direction and control of the chief officer making a designation under subsection (1A) otherwise than because the person is a constable, a special constable or a relevant employee.

13

For the purpose of subsection (12), a person is to be treated as a relevant employee only in relation to times when the person is acting in the course of the person's employment.