The key role of Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) is to develop community-based problem-solving approaches to resolving local issues. Public demand for visible patrols has never been greater, with PCSOs helping us to meet this demand and deliver the service our communities expect and deserve.
Work as a PCSO is interesting and varied, with each day bringing new challenges. You will be involved in tackling a range of crime and anti-social behaviour, for example:
You must be good on your feet
PCSOs spend much of their time on foot patrol, and are a visible, anti-crime presence in communities throughout England and Wales. Because they are so visible, members of the public feel comfortable approaching them with questions or worries about anti-social behaviour or crime.
You must be able to communicate effectively and calmly in difficult situations, and to offer comfort and reassurance to the public in order to succeed as a PCSO.
Lots of responsibility
Work as a PCSO is demanding, and brings with it a great deal of responsibility.
A set of 20 standard powers for PCSOs came into affect in all forces in December 2007. This will ensure that PCSO's minimum responsibilities are consistent across the country and will help them to deal with day-to-day neighbourhood policing and low-level anti-social behaviour.
The powers are to:
- request the name and address of a person who is believed to have committed a relevant offence
- request the name and address of a person acting in an anti-social manner
- issue fixed penalty notices for littering
- issue fixed penalty notices for cycling on a footpath
- request a person to stop drinking in a designated public area and to surrender containers of alcohol
- confiscate alcohol from young people
- confiscate cigarettes and tobacco from young people
- require removal of abandoned vehicles
- seize vehicles used to cause alarm and distress
- enter a premises to save life or limb or prevent serious damage to property
- stop vehicles for purpose of a road check
- maintain and enforce a cordoned area established under Section 36, Terrorism Act 2000
- seize drugs and require name and address for possession of drugs
- photograph people away from a police station
- stop pedal cycles
- control traffic for purposes other than escorting a load of exceptional dimensions
- require name and address for road traffic offences
- place signs
- stop and search in authorised areas under supervision of a Police Constable
- issue fixed penalty notices in respect of offences under dog control orders
Personal qualities
All PCSOs need certain attributes, for example:
- be confident, level-headed and mature
- have experience and confidence in dealing with difficult people and complex situations
- have good communication skills
- work well as part of a team
- have the stamina for long stretches on foot patrol
- exhibit excellent communication skills
- be patient in dealing with all types of people, some of whom may be drunk or hostile
The difference between a PCSO and a police officer
PCSOs do not have powers of arrest, cannot interview or process prisoners, cannot investigate crime and do not carry out the more complex and high-risk tasks that police officers perform. |
