Police Community Support Officer

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A Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) is a uniformed civilian working with the police in England and Wales. The "Police" prefix is optional, with Community Support Officer (CSO) also being common.

Police Community Support Officers were introduced by the Police Reform Act 2002^[1] in response to long standing concern over the lack of a significant police presence on the streets.

Their uniforms are similar to those of the regular police, but have a variety of distinguishing features depending on the area. The differences range from:

Body Armour

May or may not be issued, it may also be a different colour from the police.

Headgear

The hat may or may not display the force crest, some just have a shield stating "Police Community Support Officer".
The band on the hat may also be different with some sporting a reflective band, and some having a plain blue band.

Hi-Visibility Clothing

This may or may not have to be worn at all times, however it is mandatory for traffic direction.

Shirts

These may be blue or white.

1 Powers
2 Equipment
3 Incidents
4 Application Schedule
5 PCSO numbers cut by a third
6 References

[edit] Powers

The Chief Constable can decide which of the powers available to PCSOs generally are to be conferred on their force's PCSOs. The Chief Constable can also choose to extend any part of any power, for instance an individual PCSO, or a force's PCSOs, may be able to detain a person for up to 30 minutes, but unable to use force to prevent their escape. Because of this, the powers and equipment available to PCSOs on duty varies from force to force and has led to some confusion over the powers PCSOs have been given. [1] [2] Each PCSO is issued a Designation, which lists precisely all the powers they have. Unlike a Police Constable, a PCSO only has powers when on duty and in uniform, and within the region policed by their respective force. This is excepting the power to regulate traffic, which they have throughout England and Wales, but only when on duty and in uniform.

A consultation process in January 2006 announced intentions to expand some of the powers available to PCSOs. [3]

The powers a PCSO can have at present are:

Issue Fixed Penalty Notices for various traffic offences, dog fouling, littering, and cycling on footpaths.
Issue Penalty Notices for Disorder for various offences including Public Order, Criminal Damage and Theft.
Demand a person's name and address for any offences that the PCSO can issue a ticket for and any offence that has caused harm to a person or damage to property.
Deal with begging by demanding them to stop.
Detain a person for up to 30 minutes, until the arrival of a Police Constable to arrest the individual, and use reasonable force to prevent them escaping, possibly involving the use of handcuffs. The person may elect to accompany the PCSO to the Police Station instead of waiting.
Seize alcohol and tobacco from people under the legal age to be consuming those products.
Request a person to stop drinking alcohol in designated public areas, and seize the containers, whether open or closed or any container that the PCSO believes may be used for the consumption of alcohol.
Enter property to save life, prevent injury, or prevent serious damage to property.
Seize vehicles used to cause alarm and distress.
Remove abandoned vehicles, or require them to be removed.
Stop vehicles for the purpose of a road check or for exhaust emissions testing.
Regulate traffic for the purpose of escorting abnormal loads.
Establish, maintain and enforce a cordoned area established under section 33 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Stop and search pedestrians, vehicles and items carried by driver and passengers under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Stop and search persons under the respective legal ages for alcohol and tobacco.
Search any person who they have detained for articles that could be used to escape or for objects that may be used to harm the person or the PCSO.
Seize and retain any prohibited articles ie drugs or weapons they find during the course of any of the above searches.
They also have full any-person powers of arrest and can arrest anyone without warrant if they know they have committed an indictable offence, as can any other private citizen. Individual force guidelines, however, may instruct them not to utilise this power.

[edit] Equipment

PCSO's are not normally issued with any PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) such as Batons or CS Gas. Body Armour is also optional as decided by each Chief Constable. The British Transport Police PCSO's as well as those in North Wales (and others) are given handcuffs.

[edit] Incidents

On December 4th, 2006. PCSO Gary Etchells was stabbed in the neck whilst assisting a local housing trust to carry out an eviction in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester. At the time of writing, Etchells is in a stable condition in Tameside General Hospital. A 63 year old man has been charged with attempted murder in connection with this case. Etchells is believed to be the first PCSO seriously injured whilst on duty. ^[2]

[edit] Application Schedule

When someone applies to become a PCSO, they need to go through 4 stages of application. [4]

A written application. This is quite lengthy and can be filled out online.
Day One - This day is broken into three parts - A written test, where the applicant has to view a video and then write down what is seen. Two role plays, where the applicant is judged on their ability to handle difficult situations. There is also a 30 minute interview with two trained interviewers.
Day Two - This day is primarily a fitness and medical exam. The beep test is performed and medical tests are performed to ensure the applicant is healthy and free of any illicit drugs.
Security and vetting - This takes place at any stage during the application. The candidate's family and partners are checked for outstanding criminal convictions and dangerous histories.

The application procedure does vary from Force to Force. Details can be obtained from the relevant Home Force.

[edit] PCSO numbers cut by a third

The targets for recruiting PCSO's set by the Home Office have been cut from 24,000 to 16,000 fuelling speculation that the future of Community Support Officers is in doubt.^[3]