Blunkett's bobbies now have to be 18 - but have powers to seize drugs

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith ruled there should be no more "baby Blunkett's Bobbies" in rules sent to chief constables.

The minimum age will now be 18. However, the youngsters currently employed will not be sacked and the policy will apply only to new recruits, Home Office officials said.

Miss Smith's announcement was among a list of 20 standard powers for PCSOs, to be introduced from December 1.

These include seizing drugs, confiscating alcohol and handing out on-the-spot fines for misdemeanours such as littering.

Controversially, they could be given 20 further powers, at the discretion of chief constables.

These include detaining a suspect for up to 30 minutes and giving out fines for more serious crimes such as shoplifting.

Earlier this year, Thames Valley police employed two 16-year-old school leavers to carry out foot patrols from Reading police station.

It subsequently emerged at least three more forces – Humberside, West Midlands and West Yorkshire – were employing 17-year-olds as police community support officers.

Northamptonshire said it had previously employed two civilian officers aged 17, while Devon and Cornwall admitted it had once employed a 17- year-old PCSO.

A number of other forces, including Cleveland, Durham and Suffolk, said they would be happy to consider employing youngsters.

Now Miss Smith has ended the practice by removing a discretion which rested with senior officers to employ 16-year-olds if they felt they were up to the job.

The minimum joining age of 18 is now the same as fully-trained police.

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: "This is a long overdue victory for common sense. It should never have been possible in the first place for this unwise and risky use of public money to have happened."

Alan Gordon, vice-chairman of the Police Federation, said: "I am glad to see the Government has seen sense."

Miss Smith, who aims to employ 16,000 PCSOs across England and Wales, defended their role yesterday.

She said: "They are massively popular with local people and are making a difference in local communities."