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How to become a PCSO

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Career progression and salary expectations for a PCSO

PCSO

| Up to £25,000

Police Officer

| Up to £35,000

Police Sergeant

| Up to £45,000

The role of a PCSO

What does a PCSO do?

Don’t just care about community. Support it…

Police Community Support Officers (also known as PCSOs or CSOs) work within their local area, keeping members of the public safe and helping Police Officers carry out their jobs more effectively.

Although they don’t have powers of arrest and cannot interview offenders, PCSOs do share many other responsibilities with their fully-trained counterparts, including the ability to detain people and confiscating stolen or illegal items. And, as uniformed officers, some forces may also authorise them to carry equipment such as body armour, batons and restraints.

Typical duties for a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) could include:

Patrolling the local area (either on foot, or by bicycle)
Dealing with minor offences and issuing penalties
Guarding crime scenes and reassuring victims
Providing ongoing support to the local police force
Performing searches, and seizing items (e.g. alcohol, tobacco, drugs)
Working with members of the public to tackle long-term problems

Is a career as a PCSO right for me?

It’s vital to the role that Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are a visible part of the community, meaning much of your work will be done in patrols. For this reason a good level of physical fitness is essential.

You’ll also need bravery, as well as the ability to stay calm under pressure. So whether it’s controlling crowds at an event, confronting criminals, or dealing with disturbances in the local area, a good PCSO will know exactly how to handle the situation – as safely and efficiently as possible.

And, once you’ve built up a good level of experience, it is possible to move into the police force from this role, making it a great start for those looking for a long-term career in law enforcement.

Other key skills for anyone looking to become a Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) include:

Excellent communication skills
Empathy and tact
Problem solving and good decision making
Honesty and integrity
Self-defence skills
A thick skin

What's it like to be a PCSO?

"To be honest, I only looked into becoming a PCSO because I thought it would help me get into the police force. But the more I found out, the more I loved it. My day basically consists of going round the local area, looking out for any suspicious activity and keeping the community safe. Sometimes it can be challenging, and might require you to deal with local criminals or diffuse dangerous situations. Other days, it can seem like nothing happens. But just being out there and showing people that they’re protected can be huge in some places. My biggest tip? You need to be resilient. Also, be comfortable working outside. If you’re bothered by the wind and rain, you’re probably not going to go far in this job."

Get qualified as a PCSO

You won’t need a dedicated qualification to become a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), but you will have to complete some basic health, fitness and security checks in order to prove your eligibility – not to mention a series of assessment exercises. You’ll also need to be over the age of 18, have no previous criminal record, and hold a full UK manual driving license to apply.

Image credit: Police Community Support Officer - https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrgarethm/13913582756/

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