Does Plural Suit Rural? Reflections on Quasi-Policing in the Countryside

Abstract

It is widely accepted that the policing needs of rural areas can be very different from those of urban areas. Because of the concentration of population and (generally) higher crime rates, reforms in policing often appear to be driven by urban priorities, which raises questions about how they operate in the rural context. This article is concerned with one recent development in England and Wales: the introduction of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). Drawing upon interviews with rural PCSOs and the police officers who manage them, this study asks how PCSOs operate in country areas and what difficulties they face. A number of themes emerged: that lack of career development may hinder the formation of long-term ties to a particular community; that the size of beats requires transport; that PCSOs felt unable to respond effectively to minor road traffic offences which were of concern to local residents; that statutory powers to detain could be difficult to enforce; and that PCSOs might be particularly suited to bridge the gap with communities with which the police are having trouble engaging, such as migrant agricultural workers.