The Home Office wants all CSOs to have the same powers, and has issued a consultation document asking for views on which powers they should get.
Chief constables currently choose the level of authority CSOs in their area have. Options include powers to confiscate alcohol or tobacco from under-18s, to take the name and address of young people behaving "in an antisocial manner" and to disperse groups of young people under the age of 16 after 9pm.
The latter is in Section 30 of the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003. Part of this has been successfully challenged in the High Court.
Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, said standard powers "will help the public understand exactly what CSOs can do, and allow them to handle more issues, freeing up police time to deal with serious offences".
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