Police Community Support Officers
PCSOs inspire confidence on the streets of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Worcestershire. They strive to make our communities safer and stronger, yet perform one of the most demanding roles in the modern police force.
PCSOs can't make arrests and they don’t carry handcuffs or a baton. They rely on their ability to understand and communicate with some of the most challenging people in some of the most difficult situations. PCSOs need to be sensitive but objective, with excellent communication and listening skills to deal with all types of people, some of whom may be drunk, hostile or upset.
- a sense of achievement from helping to create a strong community, working with a great team of colleagues – more than half of our PCSOs are women
- people in the local area get to know you, talk to you and share their concerns with you as you will spend a lot of time on patrol outdoors
- no two days are ever the same
- a good rate of pay - the starting salary is £24,921.
- more time outdoors by patrolling on foot and by bike
- the satisfaction of knowing that regular officers have extra time to deal with more serious crimes
- professional development and training, health and wellbeing support and staff networks such as Women of West Mercia and the B-ME network
- the advantages of working for a flexible employer which enables you to fit a challenging role around the demands of your family and home life.
Put yourself in the shoes of a PCSO:
- How would you deal with a group of binge drinkers dancing in the street?
- What would you do to re-build the confidence of an elderly couple who were burgled last week?
- How would you handle young people using a shopping centre as an indoor cycle track?
PCSOs work within neighbourhood policing teams, helping to solve local issues by getting out in the community, connecting and engaging with diverse local communities, meeting people and offering advice and support to people who live and work in the area.
PCSOs deal with minor offences and support front-line policing. PCSOs go out on solo patrols, which means they will be expected to walk or bike their areas alone.
We are looking for people who are confident, level-headed, positive and mature, with the ability to deal with difficult people and situations. You may bring your wide life experiences, public service and community engagement. Applicants need to have good team-working skills, stamina for long periods of foot patrol and accuracy for completing paperwork.
As a PCSO you can expect to:
- go on highly visible solo foot and cycle patrols
- support Safer Neighbourhood Teams to solve local problems
- make house visits to gather intelligence and offer public reassurance after minor crimes or anti-social behaviour
- get involved with key people in the community, such as community, religious and business leaders work with Community Watch, Neighbourhood Watch, Business Watch, Pub Watch, Farm Watch and Horse Watch schemes
- protect crime scenes until police officers arrive
- collect CCTV evidence
- provide low-level crime prevention and personal safety advice
- carry out low-level missing person enquiries
- act as professional witnesses, attending court when needed
- support crime prevention
- engage with young people
- interact with schools
- support mobile police stations.
How to Apply?