HUNDREDS of police community support officers in East Lancashire have given out just 19 tickets in three years.

Between 2007 and 2010, PCSOs issued three tickets to people cycling on the pavement – one in Eastern division and two in Pennine.

The police staff, who have limited powers compared to police officers, issued a further 16 fixed penalty notices on behalf of local authorities, including littering and dog fouling.

Critics say the situation ‘needs looking at’ and PCSO’s ‘need to offer better value for money’. But supporters say they play a vital role in community reassurance and visible policing.

There are just short of 400 PCSOs in the county.

The figures come on the back of the decision by the six local councils – backed by Lancashire Constabulary – to keep their funding for dozens of part-paid for PCSO posts John O’Reilly, chairman of Lancashire Police Federation said: “As far as the federation is concerned when PCSOs first came about they weren’t very welcome because we saw it as policing on the cheap.

“That is no longer the case. We value what they do and are glad they’re here for another two years.

“If they have the authority to issue tickets it is more of a management issue as to why they have issued so few.”

A police spokesman said: “The primary purpose of PCSOs in Lancashire is to provide a visible and accessible uniformed presence addressing quality of life issues.”

Matthew Sinclair, director of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “The public wanted more frontline policing, the politicians gave them PCSOs.

“It is very clear that they are an inadequate substitute for full police officers and the wrong priority for scarce resources.

"The police are set to be made accountable to local people through new commissioners, if they want to maintain the programme they will have to demonstrate that PCSOs offer better value than they appear to so far.”