PCSO cut to lead to more arrests?

Leicestershire County Council is reported to be proposing to cut its funding for PCSOs. Around 20 will be relieved of their duties over the next two years, that’s apparently a 6th currently employed.body { font-family: Trebuchet, sans-serif; }

I heard the story on the local radio, and I also heard the comments of Dr Sarah Hill, who is the deputy leader of the Lib Dem council group. She said:

“They have a valuable role in the community helping the police … They’re around the community more than police officers because they don’t change … and they have links with the people”.

She went further on the radio interview, saying that PCSOs don’t have warrant cards, and will therefore speak to people before wading in, preventing potentially inflammatory confrontations. Or words to that effect.

Now forgive me if I’m wrong, but shouldn’t police officers also speak to ordinary citizens before throwing their weight around, and using their powers of arrest? Just because they have more powers than the ordinary citizen, or a PCSO, it doesn’t mean that they are obliged to use them?

Does it?