Police community support officer Job Information | National Careers Service

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Police community support officer

Hours

Variable
Starting salary

£16,000 + per year

If you can communicate well, make difficult decisions, and would like to help keep law and order in the local community, this job could be perfect for you.

As a police community support officer (PCSO) you would work alongside the police, patrolling the local area, dealing with minor incidents and offences. You would provide assistance to the police and a visible presence in the area to reassure the public.

In this job you would need to keep calm under pressure. You would need tolerance and empathy. You would also need to be assertive and able to act quickly.

Local police forces set their own entry requirements so you would need to check with them to find out what you would need. You would need to have a permanent right to remain without restriction in the UK, and you would need to pass security and reference checks.

The work

Your duties would vary (depending on the needs of the police force and your local community), but they are likely to include:

dealing with incidents of nuisance and anti-social behaviour, such as truants, vandalism and litter
directing traffic and having vehicles removed
guarding crime scenes
offering advice on crime prevention
issuing fixed penalty notices for anti-social behaviour
detaining someone until a police officer arrives
providing support at large public gatherings, such as sports events and public demonstrations
other work relating to Neighbourhood Policing Teams and work around Anti-Social Behaviour
work in partnership with other agencies.

You could work alone, in pairs or small teams, under the direction of the police commander in your area.

Hours

You would typically work shifts, including weekends and bank holidays. Shifts usually cover the hours between 8am and midnight, however, some forces use a shift pattern rota that operates 24 hours a day. Part-time work may be available.

You would mainly be outdoors, patrolling residential and commercial areas on foot. You may also be involved in giving talks to community groups about crime prevention. You would wear a uniform and keep in contact with colleagues via a radio.

Income

Starting salaries can be around £16,000 a year. With experience, this can rise to around £19,000, plus a shift allowance. In some geographical areas PCSO salaries can be up to £25,000 a year.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

You will be selected for the role of PCSO based on your application and interview. You can apply if you have a permanent right to remain without restriction in the UK. Full security and reference checks will also be made.

Local police forces set their own entry requirements so the following is intended as a general guideline.

You will not usually need formal qualifications, but you will need good spoken and written communication skills. You need to be fit enough to carry out foot patrols, so you may be asked to take a fitness test.

A qualification in public service may give you an advantage when looking for work as a PCSO. Relevant qualifications include:

NVQ Level 2 in Public Services
BTEC First Diploma or National Diploma in Public Services
BTEC National Certificate or Diploma in Uniformed Public Services
foundation degree in Public Service.

Some police forces will also want you to have experience of working within the community (paid or voluntary), and it may be helpful if you have a driving licence.

Vetting of applicants is undertaken in line with HMG Personnel Security Controls.

HMG Personnel Security Controls (pdf)

You can find local force contact details on the Police.uk site.

Police.uk

Training and development

Once you are working as a PCSO, you will have a period of training which can take between three weeks and three months, depending on the police force you join.

As a new recruit you will initially go through an intensive induction programme, which is mainly classroom-based. Training will usually include:

the role and duties of a PCSO
relevant legislation
first aid
patrolling skills
using police computers
community awareness
relevant paperwork
radio procedures.

You will then be familiarised with your local force.

Throughout your career you will regularly take part in training and development sessions to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.

Skills and knowledge

To be a police community support officer you should have:

excellent communication and listening skills
the ability to make difficult decisions with confidence
the ability to remain calm under pressure
tolerance and empathy
assertiveness, and good powers of observation
the ability to keep accurate and objective records
good teamworking skills
a knowledge of the law is a must.

More information

Skills for Justice (Opens new window)
Centre Court
Atlas Way
Sheffield
S4 7QQ
www.skillsforjustice.com

Police Service Recruitment (Opens new window)
http://policerecruitment.homeoffice.gov.uk

Opportunities

You should contact your local force for vacancy details. Contact details are on the Police.uk website.

Police.uk

As a PCSO you may be able to use your experience to train and mentor new recruits or use it as a stepping stone into other areas of police work, for example become a police officer. However, you would still need to go through the traditional recruitment process and meet all the requirements. Check the police officer job profile for more information.

police officer

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.

Related industry information

Industry summary

Police and law enforcement is part of the justice sector, which is represented by Skills for Justice Sector Skills Council. It includes: forensic science; prosecution service; courts and tribunals; custodial care; community justice; plus fire and rescue services. The UK justice sector works to create and maintain a safe, just and stable society. The purpose of the sector is to reduce crime and re‐offending, promote confidence in the criminal justice system, protect people and contribute to the reduction and fear of crime, and support the administration of justice. The sector employs around 600,000 employees in the UK across a range of organisations operating with different remits.

Policing and law enforcement within the UK includes agencies responsible for: the maintenance of law and order; the prevention and detection of crime; and the reassurance and support for communities. The main functions are:

promote safety and reduce disorder
reduce crime and fear of crime
investigating crime
contribute to delivering justice in a way that secures and maintains public confidence in the rule of law

Policing organisations includes: 43 police forces in England and Wales; 8 police forces in Scotland; police service of Northern Ireland; Non‐Home Office Forces, such as British Transport Police, Civil Nuclear Constabulary and Ministry of Defence Police; and Special Forces, such as Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and Royal Military Police Special Investigations Branch. Law enforcement organisations primarily work to protect the UK borders and frontiers, including HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and UK Border Agency.

Key facts:

In total, there are 321,828 people working in police and law enforcement, of which:
- 262,124 people work within the police service
- 62,231 work in Non‐Home Office Forces
- 4,645 work in Special Forces
There are approximately 90 establishments across the UK with the majority employing over 200 employees.
Police forces in England and Wales employ 80,322 full‐time equivalent non‐uniformed staff to undertake posts in finance, personnel, scenes of crime and transport, force intelligence, etc.
Women across the justice sector as a whole tend to be concentrated in support roles.

Jobs in the industry range from: Police Officers, Immigration Officers, Police Community Support Officers, Force intelligence officer, Border patrol, Immigrations officer, Inspector, and Call handler.

National and regional data

The East Midlands has 5 police forces that employ approximately 17,800 officers, staff and specials, approximately 7% of the police service. The five forces are: Derbyshire; Leicestershire; Lincolnshire; Northamptonshire; and Nottinghamshire. Derbyshire Constabulary had a 2‐4% increase in the number of officers from 2007 to 2008.

The East of England has 6 police forces that employ approximately 22,000 officers, staff and specials, approximately 9% of the police service. The six forces are: Bedfordshire; Cambridgeshire; Essex; Hertfordshire; Norfolk; and Suffolk.

London has 2 police forces that employ approximately 54,000 officers, staff and specials, approximately 22% of the police service. The forces are: City of London; and Metropolitan Police Service. Additionally 3,100 police officers, staff and specials in the British Transport Police work throughout London.

The North East has 3 police forces that employ approximately 12,000 officers, staff and specials, approximately 5% of the Police service. The three forces are: Cleveland; Durham; and Northumbria.

The North West has 5 police forces that employ approximately 33,500 officers, staff and specials, approximately 13% of the police service. The five forces are: Cheshire; Cumbria; Greater Manchester; Lancashire; and Merseyside.

The South East has 5 police forces that employ approximately 32,600 officers, staff and specials, approximately 13% of the police service. The five forces are: Hampshire; Kent; Surrey; Sussex; and Thames Valley.

The South West has 5 police forces that employ approximately 21,400 officers, staff and specials, approximately 9% of the police service. The five forces are: Avon and Somerset; Devon and Cornwall; Dorset; Gloucestershire; and Wiltshire. Gloucestershire Constabulary had 2‐4% increase in the number of officers from 2007 to 2008.

The West Midlands has 4 police forces that employ approximately 25,000 officers, staff and specials, approximately 10% of the police service. The four forces are: Staffordshire; Warwickshire; West Midlands; West Mercia; and West Midlands.

Yorkshire and Humberside has 4 police forces that employ approximately 24,000 officers, staff and specials, approximately 10% of the Police service. The four forces are: Humberside; North Yorkshire; South Yorkshire; and West Yorkshire.

In Northern Ireland, there are 13,700 people employed in policing and law enforcement, of which mostly all are employed by Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI). There are a number of skill shortages in Northern Ireland, including: performance management; first line management skills; dealing with volume crime; and investigative skills alongside new community policing issues.

In Scotland, there are 26,629 people employed in policing and law enforcement. The role of Police Community Support Officer has recently been introduced. Immediate challenges for the industry include: attracting appropriately skilled staff; increased partnership working across the sector as a whole; keeping up with technology; and keeping up with policy and legislative change.

In Wales, there are 13,500 people employed in policing and law enforcement, of which the majority are in the police service. Some specific skills shortages include: multi agency working; management and leadership skills; managing change; financial and resource management; ICT and computing; and race and diversity.

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