Accreditation Scheme
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is accreditation?
- Why has Community Safety Accreditation been introduced?
- Who can seek accreditation?
- What are the benefits of the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme?
- What standards must be achieved?
- Are accredited people employed by the Police?
- How do I recognise an accredited person?
- How will accredited persons be accountable?
- What powers do accredited people have?
- Will accredited people have a power of detention or arrest?
- Can offences be committed against an accredited person?
- Must accredited organisations take up all the available powers?
- How are accredited persons different to Police Community Support Officers?
- Are there any fees payable??
- How do I find out more?
Q1: What is accreditation?
A: The Community Safety Accreditation Scheme has been made possible through the Police Reform Act 2002. This has created an opportunity for organisations that provide community safety and security functions to enter into an arrangement with the Chief Constable for the accreditation of its staff. Accreditation will enable employees to exercise limited but targeted powers to help them become more effective in their role. Powers will only be granted if they meet local needs and priorities. Accredited persons will also benefit from additional protection provided by the Act. Information sharing between the Police, partner organisations and accredited persons will help to coordinate visible patrols and direct resources effectively to improve quality of life within the community.
Q2: Why has Community Safety Accreditation been introduced?
A: Any organisation or employer may enter into an arrangement with the Chief Constable for the accreditation of its staff. Although the list is not exhaustive this could include Local Authority neighbourhood and street wardens, housing association and countryside wardens, private sector security services and sports event stewards. They all play an active role in safeguarding the community.
Q3: Who can seek accreditation?
A: Any organisation or employer may enter into an arrangement with the Chief Constable for the accreditation of its staff. Although the list is not exhaustive this could include Local Authority neighbourhood and street wardens, housing association and countryside wardens, private sector security services and sports event stewards. They all play an active role in safeguarding the community.
Q4: What are the benefits of the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme?
A: By displaying the Home Office approved accreditation badge, the public will instantly know that the individual has reached approved standards of competence, training, and accountability and that they are properly managed and supervised. These high standards, together with enhanced vetting procedures, will provide additional reassurance to the public.
Accreditation will help those providing community safety patrols to operate in their role more efficiently and effectively, and will raise their profile within the local community. It will provide additional powers with the potential to address certain issues on the spot without the involvement of the Police.
Improved working relationships with the Police and all those involved in the provision of community safety patrols will lead to the development of a coordinated and more effective service. A formalised framework to facilitate the sharing of information and intelligence will lead to a more locally driven approach, which meets the needs of employers and members of the public and will help to resolve community problems.
The importance of the role of Accredited Person is also recognised by legislative protection. New offences of assault and obstruction can now be committed against accredited persons.
Q5: What standards must be achieved?
A: Standards have been determined and agreed following consultation between Chief Constables, Police Authorities and Local Authorities which are based upon guidance from the Association of Chief Police Officers.
Before members of staff are accredited, an organisation must satisfy strict criteria with regard to vetting and training standards, equal opportunities and race relations policies, and must have approved complaints and accountability procedures etc.
To become accredited, employees must similarly satisfy strict standards in terms of vetting and training. Enhanced criminal records bureau checks are required and training must be received in core skills as well as additional training in the use of powers and appropriate procedures. Such training will include human rights, diversity and equal opportunities. Training providers must be approved by the Scheme.
Q6: Are accredited people employed by the Police?
A: No. Accredited people are employed by the organisation that has been accredited. The Police are not involved in the direction of accredited people and do not control their role or day to day activities. However, by bringing them into the wider policing family there will be greater liaison between the Police and accredited organisations. Improved sharing of information will help them to operate more effectively and enhance co-ordination of local problem solving initiatives.
Q7: How will accredited persons be accountable?
A: Accredited persons will be accountable to their employers, who will be responsible for their control, direction and monitoring. Prior to accreditation being granted, employers must satisfy the Chief Constable that they have robust systems, structures and procedures to ensure the supervision of their staff. There must also be an established and maintained system for the handling of complaints. Accredited persons are subject to an enhanced criminal record check and the Police will monitor the use of powers.
Q8: How do I recognise an accredited person? 
A: Accredited persons wear the uniform of their employer upon which the Home Office approved national accreditation badge will be displayed. They will also carry an identification card which will confirm the powers the individual is able to exercise.
Q9: What powers do accredited persons have?
A: The powers are set out in Schedule 5 of the Police Reform Act 2002, as amended by the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 and the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.
Not all accredited persons will have the same powers. Powers will only be granted if they are appropriate to the role that is being performed. They must also comply with local needs, policies and priorities.
Accredited Persons may be authorised to exercise some or all of the powers listed below: -
● Issue Fixed Penalty Notices for :-
- dog fouling
- littering
- graffiti
- fly-posting
- truancy (issued to parents)
- riding a bicycle on a footpath
● Power to request a name and address for Fixed Penalty Notices
● Power to request the name and address of a person acting in an anti-social manner
● Power to request a name and address from a person suspected of committing an offence that has caused injury, alarm and distress to another person, or damage or loss of another’s property
● Power to confiscate alcohol from young persons under 18 yrs
● Power to confiscate cigarettes and tobacco products from young persons under 16 yrs
● Power to request a person to stop drinking in a designated public place and to confiscate and dispose of alcohol being consumed within a designated public place
● Power to require the removal of a vehicle causing a danger or obstruction
● Power to stop cyclists if they are suspected of having committed the offence of riding on a footpath
● Issue Penalty Notices for Disorder (PND) in relation to –
- Throwing fireworks in a thoroughfare
- Consumption of alcohol in a designated public place
- Buying/attempting to buy alcohol for consumption in a bar in licensed premises by a person under 18 years
- Knowingly give a false alarm to a fire brigade
- Using public telecommunications system for sending messages known to be false in order to cause annoyance
- Behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress
The granting of any power is at the discretion of the Chief Constable.
In accordance with Durham Constabulary policy, the issue of PND’s is not currently available to accredited persons.
An accredited person will carry an identification card which will specify the powers they are trained and authorised to use.
A person commits an offence if they fail to comply with any authorised request from an accredited person, for example where a person fails to provide their name and address when required .
Q10: Will accredited people have a power of detention or arrest?
A: Accredited persons do not have any specific power to detain or arrest. They do have the general citizen’s power of arrest but there is no expectation that they shall exercise this power as part of the scheme .
Q11: Can offences be committed against an accredited person?
A: Yes. It is an offence :
● to assault an accredited person in the execution of their duty, or any person assisting an accredited person in the execution of their duty
● to resist or wilfully obstruct an accredited person in the execution of their duty, or any person assisting an accredited person in the execution of their duty
● with intent to deceive, impersonate an accredited person, or make any statement or do any act calculated to falsely suggest that a person is accredited
Q12: Must accredited employees take up all the available powers?
A: No. Due to the diversity of local needs and problems from one area to another, organisations may apply on behalf of their staff for some or all of the powers available. Indeed the benefits of accreditation may still be obtained without any additional powers being granted.
Q13: How are accredited persons different to Police Community Support Officers?
A: Unlike accredited persons, Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) are employed by the Police Authority for a given area, and act under the full control of the relevant Chief Police Officer. PCSO’s have a similar but slightly larger range of powers available to them. A significant difference is that PCSO’s can, in certain areas, detain a person for 30 minutes if they are suspected of certain offences.
Q14: Are there any fees payable?
A: Charges will be applied to the arrangement and accreditation process. Current charges can be obtained by contacting the Durham Constabulary Community Safety Accreditation Scheme. Charges will be reviewed on an annual basis.
Q15: How do I find out more?
A: Further information can be obtained by contacting the Community Justice Department on
0191 375 2997
