PCSOs

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are the face of the police within local communities.

As a PCSO, you will be at the heart of our communities, playing an integral part in delivering effective neighbourhood policing, and providing a highly visible policing presence.

Your communication, relationship building and problem-solving skills will ensure you become a well-known and respected figure across your patch.

In return for your work and commitment to protecting our communities, at Thames Valley Police (TVP) we will offer you a starting salary of £30,177 – £31,560 per annum, great training, and a Level 4 Diploma in Community Policing Practice.

Becoming a TVP Police Community Support Officer

What is the role of a Police Community Support Officer?

  • As a PCSO, you will police our neighbourhoods, primarily through visible patrol, reassuring the public.
  • The role is diverse; from attending community events to helping solve street-based problems including drugs related crime and anti-social behaviour.
  • Through building strong relationships with communities and partner agencies, you will reduce crime and disorder, tackling community safety at a local level.

What can we offer you?

  • A full-time, permanent role, for which you will have a starting salary of £30,177 – £31,560 per annum (Band 2E) from day 1 of training, inclusive of shift allowances, depending on location and pattern required.
  • After your initial learning and coached patrol training, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible shift pattern. This will be assessed on a case-by-case basis as per the operational requirements of your neighbourhood team.
  • In addition, we offer a fantastic range of benefits, including 24 days annual leave per annum pro-rata for part time (plus Bank Holidays), a wide range of lifestyle discounts, career development opportunities and have the option to join a local government pension scheme. To view a full list of our benefits, please visit our Supporting you page.
  • As an apprentice PCSO your on-the-job learning will also be accredited with a Level 4 Diploma in Community Policing Practice. Modern apprenticeships offer new opportunities to earn and learn for everyone from college leavers to career changers.

What are the eligibility criteria?

To apply for the role you will need to meet our eligibility criteria:

  • Age 17 at date of application, must be 18 upon appointment – no upper age limit
  • English Language or Literature and Mathematics at GCSE point 9-4 or equivalent (e.g. Grade A*-C or Functional Skills Level 2)
    • If you do not have Level 2 Functional Skills or GCSE English (grades A*-C/9-4), you can obtain these by approaching a college or training provider to find out what courses they are running which will allow you to attend training sessions (face to face or online), take the exam and then be in a position to continue with your application
  • Be a British, EC/EEA or Commonwealth citizen or a foreign national with indefinite leave to remain
  • Be in good health and able to physically and mentally perform your duties, having the ability to successfully complete the job-related fitness test. BMI readings will be taken at your fitness test and medical as part of your overall health assessment.
  • Full UK Driving Licence (you can still apply if you are currently learning to drive and plan to take your test in the next 3 to 6 months however you won’t be able to join an intake until you have passed your test)

Within the Thames Valley region there are a number of local Further Education colleges that run courses. There are also private training providers that offer learning online (the exam will need to be invigilated at a training centre).

To find a provider, you could contact your local college to see what they offer and/or complete a search for a provider using the internet.

Some courses are fully funded by the Department of Education through the adult education budget whilst others need to be paid for the individual. You will need to speak to the provider about what costs are involved.

 

What training will you receive?

Your training will include:

  • Initial Learning (10 weeks); This takes place at our force training centre in Sulhamstead where you will learn about the roles and responsibilities of a PCSO alongside fellow PCSO students.
  • Annual leave (1 week)
  • Coached Patrol (10 weeks); You will then move to your neighbourhood team where you will start to carry out the role alongside your PCSO Tutor who will coach and support you.
  • Independent Phase (31 weeks); During this phase you will continue to work within your neighbourhood team and continue to be supported as you work towards your qualification in Community Policing Practice and achievement of the Police Community Support Officer Apprenticeship.

Where could you be working?

  • We currently have PCSO roles available in our 3 counties, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.
  • We will aim to appoint you in a role closest to your home address.
  • Please visit our Thames Valley Police Local Policing Areas (LPAs) page to see our work locations across the Thames Valley.

How can you apply?

The process from initial application through to start date can take six months and includes:

  1. application (including proof of eligibility)
  2. interview
  3. provisional offer
  4. pre-employment checks
  5. start date

We are currently open for PCSO recruitment in Slough.

If you have any queries please contact our Recruitment Department via RecruitmentPCSO@thamesvalley.police.uk

Meet our Police Community Support Officers

Our Police Community Support Officers come from all walks of life, and bring a variety of life experiences with them, but what they all have in common is their desire to make a difference and protect our communities. Get inspired by their stories.

More stories of our Police Community Support Officers are available here.

Celebrating 20 Years of Police Community Support Officers

Last year, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) celebrate 20 years of delivering neighbourhood policing.
On 24 July 2002, the Police Reform Act introduced the PCSO role, and they have played an integral part in neighbourhood policing ever since. This anniversary allows us to celebrate the importance of the PCSO role and recognise the value it brings in helping to protect communities.
At Thames Valley Police (TVP), our first PCSOs started in Oxfordshire in 2003, and they continue to be an integral part of communities ever since.

“Nearly 20 years on, our PCSOs continue to make a significant contribution to policing the in the Thames Valley.
As part of our neighbourhood policing teams, PCSOs provide frontline support by working at the heart of our communities as the face of policing within the Thames Valley. Our PCSOs come from all walks of life, bringing strong and diverse skillsets that enable us to build trust and confidence within our communities.

As Chief Constable, I would like to extend my personal thanks to all of our PCSOs for their hard work and dedication over the last two decades. They continue to help protect our communities and allow us, as Thames Valley Police, to be at our best.”

– Former Chief Constable John Campbell QPM