Imitation gun cache of police support officer

A POLICE community support officer (PCSO) for a Yorkshire village has been suspended after a cache of imitation firearms was found at his home.

West Yorkshire PCSO Daniel Williams, 21, whose beat includes Addingham, was pictured on the internet holding two guns in a pose apparently copied from a violent computer game.

His police colleagues raided his home in Otley on Thursday and seized a number of imitation firearms.

It is understood that crossbows, harpoons and a sword were also found in the search.

Williams was held overnight and released yesterday after being cautioned for theft.

Police were alerted after a picture of Williams was posted on the social networking website Facebook.

The photograph appeared to show the shaven-headed PCSO clutching two handguns in an assassin stance copied from the computer game series Hitman.

Williams seemed to be dressed as the game’s main character, suit-wearing gunman Agent 47, a genetically-enhanced clone trained to assassinate targets.

Another photograph showed him posing with what appeared to be a sniper rifle.

His profile page on the website, registered under the name “Daniel Michael Williams”, even included a link to West Yorkshire Police’s own Facebook page.

A spokesman for the force said: “On Thursday morning a 21-year-old man was arrested and a number of imitation firearms were seized from an address in the Otley area.

“He has been cautioned for the offence of theft and is currently suspended pending the outcome of further disciplinary proceedings.”

Williams is a member of West Yorkshire Police’s Wharfedale and Craven neighbourhood policing team, based at Ilkley police station.

He mainly patrols Addingham, while other members of the team cover Steeton, Eastburn and Silsden.

Williams had been due to hold two police surgeries in Addingham in the next four weeks. West Yorkshire Police’s Addingham neighbourhood policing website said he would be available for two hour-long sessions on January 20 and February 10.

An invitation to residents on the website read: “Please call in and see Daniel if you would like to meet him or discuss any policing issues.”

The Government introduced PCSOs in 2002 under the Police Reform Act as part of a nationwide drive to provide more visible patrols in neighbourhoods.

Their primary roles are to reassure the public and to tackle anti-social behaviour, which can involve helping to support victims, confiscating alcohol in public plans, controlling crowds at major events and dealing with litter, graffiti and abandoned vehicles.

They do not have arrest powers but are allowed to detain suspects until a police officer arrives, direct traffic, remove vehicles and issue fines for anti-social behaviour.

Photographs posted on the internet have been used by police to secure convictions in the past.

Last September members of the Parson Cross Crew, a gang based in north Sheffield, were put behind bars for a total of 14 years after posing on the internet with guns and knives.