Cops stood by as boy drowned

TWO Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) "just stood there" while a ten-year-old-boy drowned trying to save his step-sister, an inquest heard.

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The hijab-wearing 17-year-old Muslim girl hired as a community police 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.

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Babies on the beat: Two 16-year-olds are recruited as community bobbies

Two 16-year-olds have been recruited as police community support officers with the authority to detain and question suspects.

The pair, just out of school, will join foot patrols from a 'busy' police station.

The move by Thames Valley Police has triggered a row about public safety and allegations that forces - and the Government - are trying to "police on the cheap".

The teenagers are two years too young to join the regular police force. If they were offenders, they would be tried in juvenile rather than adult courts.

Yet they will have a string of powers, including the right to detain offenders, stop and search under terror laws, issue penalty notices for disorder and stop vehicles.

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