| FORUMS Prison Officers PCSOs H A T O S Windsor Safari Park Horse Rangers | ||
| SITES Prison Officers H A T O S Police Community Support officer |
|
About Articles Dating F A Q Forums Funding HATOs 2007 N E W S Origins Our Friends PCSO role Powers Products Safer Neighbourhoods Trouble shooters The Archive UNISON About Articles Dating F A Q Forums Funding HATOs 2007 N E W S Origins Our Friends PCSO role Powers Products Safer Neighbourhoods Trouble shooters The Archive UNISON |
2007 more webchat from the Home Secretary dated 2.8.07 here
2007
The government has pledged to put 16,000 PCSOs out into communities across England and Wales and is looking for recruits to perform what is one of the most rewarding, interesting and varied roles in the modern police service. The Home Office is currently running a major recruitment drive to increase PCSO numbers. PCSOs were introduced in 2002 as part of a nationwide drive towards neighbourhood policing, with the aim of tackling crime and the fear of crime and bringing the police closer to local communities. PCSOs perform an essential role, which extends the range of activities the police are able to provide to our communities. It is the job of a PCSO to provide a highly visible, reassuring presence on the streets and to help tackle the anti-social behaviour and minor crimes that concern many people, freeing up frontline police officers to focus on solving more serious crimes. Dedicating at least 80 per cent of their time to public-facing duties, PCSOs provide fresh eyes and ears for the police force in the community. The Home Office is looking for PCSO’s from all backgrounds. One man who has already taken up the challenge is father of four Dorian Atkins. Atkins has worked as a PCSO for Essex Police for two years. “I’ve had a variety of jobs over the years, ranging from working in a pet shop to being a VIP escort at Harrods, but being a PCSO is the best job I’ve ever had. “I work specifically in the marine section of Essex Police, which means that I’m responsible for patrolling the coastline throughout the day, visiting marinas and beach huts to check everything is OK. I’ve received additional training for sea survival and gone on capsize courses, just in case an incident happens when I’m out on patrol. This kind of training is obviously specific to my role, but when you become a PCSO you receive all kinds of training to help you to do your job. “Getting the opportunity to interact with members of my community is one of the best aspects of my job. I get a real buzz when people tell me that they feel safer as a result of what we do as PCSOs. “I also get the opportunity to help educate young people about water safety and crime prevention, as I regularly give talks at school fetes, scout meetings and yacht clubs. “Being a PCSO means that you come into contact with people from all walks of life – from the homeless to millionaire yacht owners. As a result, I feel much more rounded as a person, and I have learned not to stereotype people and to be more accepting in general.” If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, as well as giving your own life a boost, why not consider becoming a PCSO? The police are looking for people from all ages and all backgrounds to apply. Log onto www.policecouldyou.co.uk or call the recruitment helpline on 0845 600 0925 to find out more. 23 April 2007
![]()
|
GO TO forums Prison Officers sites
Police Community GO TO forums Prison Officers sites |
2006
Home Secretary probed over funding cuts for neighbourhood policing
A LABOUR MP has grilled the Home Secretary over the Government’s decision cut funding for police community support officers.
The Home Office is reducing Kent’s budget for PCSOs by £3.5million.
The Kent Police Authority, which slammed the decision, had budgeted for an extra 474 support officers by April 2008 but can now only afford 273.
The MP for Dover and Deal, Gwyn Prosser, questioned John Reid at the Home Affairs Select Committee meeting this week.
Mr Prosser asked him: “Are you aware how shocked and disappointed Kent Police is to find the Home Office has severely cut its funding for the recruitment of PCSOs and what do you say to the Chief Constable of Kent who says that he will not now be able to properly implement his neighbourhood policing plans across the county?”
In response, the Home Secretary said the police service had informed his department that constabularies could now meet their targets and roll out neighbourhood policing with a lesser number of PCSOs.
Mr Reid told him that excellent progress had been made nationally with fewer support officers than expected.
He said the decision was taken after the police service pressed for greater flexibility in its funding.
The Home Office said last week that Kent Police was to receive an extra £2m next year in its overall budget.
POSTED: 13/12/2006 10:06:43

Fury as beats swapped for desk
By MIKE SULLIVAN
Crime Editor
October 23, 2006
FURY erupted last night over plans to put police community support officers in OFFICE jobs.
The bobbies were introduced in 2003 to provide more police visibility.
But The Sun can reveal today that the Metropolitan Police are planning to replace 350 civil counter staff at police stations in London with PCSOs.
Unions and police observers denounced the scheme as “policing on the cheap” and an insult to the public.
PCSOs were the brainchild of Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair. Critics denounced them as “Plastic Cops”. Now they are to begin replacing station reception officers from April 1. Plans to put PCSOs in call centres are also being considered.
A spokesman for the Public and Commercial Services Union said: “This is being driven purely by costs without any real thought about the implications.”
Station staff will be able to apply for other civilian posts — or try to become PCSOs. The spokesman said: “Station reception staff are very skilled. PCSOs are not trained for this job.”
One PCSO said: “We were heralded as the future of policing and would patrol the streets. We were not meant to sit in offices.”
Former Met Commander John O’Connor said: “This is cheating the public.”
23 Oct 2006

a new HATO site has JUST LAUNCHED! click below legend to join

Supporting role on film
A fly-on-the-wall documentary about the life of Oxford's police community support officers is being filmed for ITV.
A crew is spending 10 weeks filming the nine PCSOs who work for the city's three teams in Barton, Blackbird Leys and East Oxford for the series entitled Beat: Life on the Street.
The programme is part of a national recruitment drive for PCSOs and programme makers have received funding from the Home Office to produce the series of six half hour programmes.
PCSOs are being filmed at home as well as at work - last week they were filmed at St Giles Fair, Blackbird Leys Parish Council and on the streets of Barton. A separate crew are also filming in Preston, Lancashire.
It comes after another fly-on-the-wall series set in Oxford, The Singing Estate, which followed amateur singers in Blackbird Leys rehearsing then performing at the Albert Hall.
Beat series producer Jules Seymour said: "We are following the sort of things they come across on a day-to-day basis and how they react with the community, but also the quirky aspects of their day job and the different characters they speak to.
"The PCSOs are all great - really good, strong characters who are really committed to the job.
"The reason we chose to film in Oxford is because it has a very diverse community.
"There are the dreaming spires in the centre and the estates which people don't hear much about on the periphery."
Rachel Semczyszyn, who has been a police community support officer in Barton for just over a year, is one of the PCSOs being filmed.
She said: "Having the film crew around is a bit strange really, it has taken a bit of getting used to and we have to get people's consent every time we speak to someone.
"The first time it was really uncomfortable and a bit odd.
"But after you have done it once or twice it comes naturally and I just talk to the producer about things.
"A few people don't like it, but a lot of the jobs we deal with are not that serious so they are happy for their pictures to be shown."
Police spokesman Rachel McQuilliam said: "There are PCSOs all over the country, so it is quite lucky to have been chosen.
"We worked very closely with them (the television company) before they began filming to ensure the guidelines were set down so everyone knew how it would work for both sides.
"The PCSOs have been very enthusiastic about their job and really welcome the opportunity to show the general public what is so great about it. We are very pleased to be involved."
The series is due to be screened on ITV1 from the beginning of next month
Monday 11th September 2006
![]() |
check out the brand new 2007 John Child calendar completed for PCSOs across the UK
add your comments to the topic right now!! 12 crucial cartoons depicting real life PCSO scrapes, issues and commentary, this calendar is a must for all PCSO offices across the country! PUT YOURS UP NOW! John Child: "As the adverts say 'Community Support Officer, Could you?'. Well I couldn't which makes me highly respect anyone that has chosen this career. But what I can do is pay homage through cartoons that are an acknowledgement of the day to day situations that PCSOs have to put up with."
John Child is a Graphic Designer who passes PCSOs at London Charing Cross everyday. |
Police Community Support Officer of the Year 2006 is PCSO Paula Boston
Paula Boston, a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) from Wing, is the top PCSO in the Thames Valley Police Community Policing Awards competition.
Speaking of her achievement, Paula said: “It was quite surreal when I was told. I am so thrilled about it. The support from the community has been fantastic, right across the board – from the young people who have been really open and worked with me to the community in general being really supportive of me and my role.”
Paula has always wanted to work with people and began her career in the hotel and catering industry before becoming a licensee. She then heard the Thames Valley Police recruitment publicity for Police Community Support Officers and decided to give it a go.
She said:” I wanted to get involved because it was more community-based and I have always worked with the public. I had thought about being a police officer in my twenties and decided against it because of family commitments. Then when I heard about PCSOs I decided it was a career I wanted to be involved in.”
One resident, Commander Vic Sirett OBE RN (Retd), said:” Paula started at grass roots level, concentrating her efforts with a hearts and minds campaign aimed at schools, youth clubs, councillors, parents and more importantly to young people she met on the streets.
The effect of this approach soon became evident with a noticeable reduction in vandalism combined with a much improved atmosphere when assessing the quality of life in the village. Paula is a conscientious, knowledgeable and charismatic addition to the community. She is a credit to the police service and a most valuable asset to the village of Wing.”
The competition for the PCSO of the year award was fierce with 18 other contenders for the title. Chair of the judging panel Assistant Chief Constable Nick Gargan, said: "The judges were quite staggered by the overall standard of nominations for the PCSO award. Three years ago, PCSOs were unheard of: today they are an indispensable part of neighbourhood policing. PCSOs are making an amazing difference to policing across the Thames Valley - and it is great to have such a deserving winner of this first-ever PCSO of the year award."
Paula is in the middle of a campaign for a recreation area in the village. She is working with councillors and businesses in the area to raise money. Young people from the village have pledged their support to help with the project.
If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a police community support officer contact on the national PCSO recruitment hotline on 0845 600 0925 or visit www.policecouldyou.co.uk.

Jews wanted by police
by: Leslie Bunder
03/07/2006
London's Metropolitan Police is looking to recruit more police community support officers (PCSO) from London's ethnic communities including Jewish Londoners.
It hopes an additional 1500 people will take on the roll as part of the extension of the Safer Neighbourhood project which sees three police officers supported by three support officers dedicated to an area.
Police community support officers can earn up to £25,000 a year and are entitled to a number of benefits including free bus travel.
A recruitment day taking place this Friday between 9am and 4pm as well as on Saturday in south east London aims to provide information to the public on the role of a support officer and what opportunities there are.
"PCSOs contribute to policing in London by providing a visible and reassuring presence," said Chief Superintendent Steve Bloomfield, head of the Safer Neighbourhoods Programme. "They also play a vital role in Safer Neighbourhoods Teams where they work alongside Police Officers. The teams work with the local community to identify and tackle local problems such as anti-social behaviour or graffiti."

County to get more community support
by Tristan Harris 17/08/2006
A NEW campaign launched by Home Secretary John Reid this week will see an extra 301 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) on the streets of West Mercia.
The added officers, which will take the number of PCSOs across Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Telford, Shropshire and Wrekin to 373 by April 2008, will play a vital part in the fight against crime and reassuring residents.
After the recruitment, North Worcestershire, which covers Bromsgrove and Rubery, will be up to around 75 PCSOs and South Worcestershire, which includes Droitwich, will have 80.
The community support officer role will appeal to, and suit, those who enjoy working with people, enjoy the outdoor life and want a career which is exciting and varied.
Duties of the PCSO include carrying out high visibility foot patrols, tackling anti-social behaviour and improving the quality of life for local communities.
Trainees will undertake an initial seven-week training course, followed by a four-week induction programme on the division on which they will be working.
PCSOs, who work shifts from 8am to 10pm, including weekends, each will have their own beat to patrol. The starting salary is £14,517 plus a shift allowance and weekend working allowance. A uniform, including a protective vest, is provided.
Supt Sharon Gibbons said the move was part of the force’s continued effort to develop itself into a strategic police service.
“They will play an important role in delivering our Local Policing plans, working with communities to solve neighbourhood problems.
“Being a PCSO is more than just a job - it is an opportunity to make a real difference, and is both challenging and rewarding,” she added.
Anyone interested in should email: csorecruitment.hq@westmercia.pnn.police.uk, or for more information about the role of CSOs see the recruitment section of West Mercia Constabulary’s website, www.westmercia.police.uk or visit www.policecouldyou.co.uk.
Sections 110 & 111 and Schedule 7 of SOCAP come into force on 1 January 2006
NEW POWERS OF ARREST FOR 2006
Powers of arrest
Police Power of Arrest
New s.24A Other person power of arrest
AND
Any person – arrest reasons
download the 60k custody officer's guide to these major changes now
PCSOs to GET STANDARD POWERS
The Home Office announced on the 18th January that the following powers should become STANDARD for all PCSOs
Transport Powers
Alcohol and tobacco powers
Powers to tackle anti-social behaviour
Enforcement powers
Security powers
FULL STORY AND FURTHER INFO HERE

Modern bobbies on the beat
Published on 11/08/2006
CRITICS have called them “plastic policemen" but Leesa Heron proves there is much more to being a police community support officer.
Leesa, 27, left a nine-to-five job as a land changes and licensing officer at Allerdale council 18 months ago.
She had been in her office-bound job since leaving school and was looking for a new challenge.
She had always been interested in working as part of a police team and the new position of community support officer gave her the opportunity.
If she was looking for variety she got it. A typical day can include anything from dealing with the closure of houses used by drug peddlers to visiting schools to build relationships with the children.
When the government announced the appointment of support officers, detractors referred to the new position as “plastic policemen", or policing on the cheap.
But Cumbria is looking to recruit 93 more. Maryport already has two but Sergeant Joe Stamper said he would be pleased to take many more because they had proved to be invaluable.
Police community support officers are uniformed staff whose role is to support police officers and work within their local communities. They help the police in areas that need a level of police presence, but not necessarily the expertise of a trained police officer.
They free up some of the time that police officers might spend on routine tasks or low-level crime. Although the officers have limited powers, and do not carry batons or handcuffs, their job is no less rewarding than the fully-fledged police officers they work beside, Leesa said.
She said: “When a local youth was causing a constant nuisance, setting fires, causing criminal damage and causing fear on one estate in Maryport, I worked closely with the housing association and an anti-social behaviour order was obtained on the 13-year-old. As a result, the area improved dramatically."
The community officers are the modern bobbies on the beat, Sgt Stamper says, and Leesa hopes this is true.
A large part of her job is getting to know people and to develop mutual respect. She wants the people of Maryport and district to feel they can trust her and come to her with problems.
She works with parish councils. In Oughterside, for example, a speed restriction campaign will start soon as a result of a partnership formed by Leesa, between police and the parish.
She added: “Just popping your head into someone's home, school, or shop makes a person feel reassured and safe. “It helps to decrease the fear of crime within the community and assists me and, in turn the station officers, to become aware of what is happening within the community and if there are any issues that need to be addressed.”
It has taken time, she says, but now regular police officers respect their community colleagues and recognise them for the invaluable support they can give.
For more information on becoming a PCSO and for an application form, call 01768 217095.
![]() | John Child ! LOG ONTO HIS SITE |
Government slammed by MP
By Steve Sowden
YEOVIL MP David Laws has criticised the Government's decision to cut funding for Police Community Support Officers which will result in a reduction of 195 in the Avon and Somerset Constabulary.
Mr Laws has written to the Home Secretary, John Reid, calling on him to restore the original plans for extra PCSOs.
David Laws said: "Further to the Government's announcement that they were withdrawing funding for plans to increase the numbers of PCSOs nationwide, it has been confirmed that this will mean a reduction of 195 in Avon and Somerset Constabulary.
"This is very disappointing news for the police as it will mean less officers on the beat.
"Our police force has found PCSOs the ideal compliment to regular officers in delivering services in the community and a reduction will leave a gaping hole in the constabulary's plans.
"I have written to the Home Secretary, John Reid, asking him to reconsider his position in light of the relative under-funding of Avon and Somerset Constabulary and the important role PCSOs play in our area."
15th December 2006

PLODCAST is here
Darren Yates, Recruitment Publicity Officer for West Midlands Police , speaks about his plodcast project and includes a great interview with operational PCSOs Amanda Williams (right) and Michael Taylor in Birmingham city centre
Plodcasts will include emails and letters from budding recruits, competitions and interviews with police officers, special constables, police community support officers and police staff.
West Midlands Police currently have 260 operational PCSOs, but they are looking to recruit another 500 PCSOs by April 2007.
download the 4MB MP3 right here

THAMES VALLEY POLICE VOWS TO SIGN UP HUNDREDS OF POLICE OFFICERS
(THURSDAY APRIL 27)
HUNDREDS of community support officers are to take to the streets over the next two years to support police officers across the Thames Valley, it was revealed today.
The Force intends to recruit up to 500 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) over the next two financial years. Thames Valley Police currently has 107 PCSOs.
The officers will work alongside record numbers of police officers to help deal with anti-social behaviour and help patrol the streets to provide the uniformed presence the public expects.
Chief Inspector Jon Smith, based at Headquarters and in charge of PCSOs, said: "The Police Community Support Officers are now increasingly accepted in the communities in which they work and they are making a positive contribution.
"They have become well known and people are finding them approachable. They become an important link between the police and the community in which they work.
"The PCSOs will be essential to help us deliver Neighbourhood Policing across the Thames Valley, which will give every community its own team of dedicated police officers and community support officers."
PCSOs have also worked with local authorities and other groups to solve problems in areas such as graffiti and youths congregating. The campaign to recruit the staff will begin this month.
Amy Shah, a PCSO based at Maidenhead, said: "As a PCSO you have to make your job interesting.
"You will be given a list of things to do during your day but it is up to you to make it interesting and involve yourself in things so you have to have a lot of initiative.
"You also have to be able to talk to different people in different ways. There is not one set approach you can use with different people.
"One thing about my job that I really like is that you have to talk to people and get things done without using the law. There are other ways to get things done and help improve and area."
The recruitment campaign was launched this month.
The Force has gained £11million of funding from the Home Office for the next two years which will help pay for the extra 568 the Force wish to recruit.
Anyone wanting to find out more about the role of the PCSO should go to www.policecouldyou.co.uk or www.thamesvalley.police.uk to find out more.
27 April 2006

Foundation Degree at Thames Valley University
Sir Ian Blair Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service received the award of Honorary Professor of Law at Thames Valley University on the 22nd November at the Barbican Centre in the City of London.
At this event Sir Ian was able to congratulate Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Cheryl Carroll for her achievement as the best student of the year on the new Foundation Degree in Applied law at Thames Valley University.
Cheryl is a member of the first group of students to complete the first year of this two-year course.
The Foundation Degree at Thames Valley University is available to all police support workers and civilian employees of the Metropolitan Police (MPS). The present cohort of students enrolled on the Foundation Degree, are all Police Community Support Officers employed by the MPS.
The Foundation Degree is a new type of undergraduate provision, and is designed to focus on learning in the workplace. Cheryl and her colleagues on this course have enjoyed a learning environment, which has been reported to impact positively on their experience at work.
Cheryl is part of a Safer Neighbourhood Team in Hillingdon, and has been employed as a PCSO for over two years. She is married and has two children one of whom started University at the same time as Cheryl.
She has stated that she finds the course 'very helpful and extremely interesting….I now have knowledge of the law and how it is applied to my role within the MPS'. Cheryl also believes that the course has given her more confidence in the day-to-day work of dealing with the public.
Cheryl pays tribute to her colleagues at Hillingdon who she states 'have given me a huge amount of support, help and guidance, which has been reflected in my results'
If things go according to plan Cheryl is looking forward to completing her Foundation Degree in September 2006 and then applying to join the MPS as a police officer.
![]() | John Child cartoons! LOG ONTO HIS SITE RIGHT HERE for more cartoons and to contact him |
Police Staff magazine
UNISON Conference asks some tough questions
PCSOs
Conference welcomed the Government announcement that the Service will employ 25,000 PCSOs by 2008.
Opportunities arising from the move, delegates said, would be a massive increase in membership and consolidation of UNISON as a key police stakeholder. Challenges, however, could be the risk of other representative organisations bidding to organise the new workforce.
Conference asked the SGE to convene a PCSO working party to help construct an issue-based organising campaign.
Police Federation expansion
Conference was concerned that the Police Federation was examining taking police staff with police powers into membership.
This could lead to the Federation recruiting PCSOs, detention officers and others accredited under the 2002 Police Reform Act. Delegates agreed that successful police reform required stable industrial relations, and Conference instructed the SGE to redouble UNISON’s positive organising agenda for PCSOs and to represent its concerns to the Police Federation.
Police Staff magazine
Round the Tube
by Mark Luker
After recent press coverage of PCSOs I am sure that members of the public now have a feeling that we are nothing more than ‘plastic bobbies’. This has not only dented the public’s faith in us, but also dented the morale of many a PCSO.
So what do the PCSOs out on the beat think of this?
I recently asked this question on one of the largest Internet forums for PCSOs, national-pcsos.co.uk and the impression I got back was that many people had warmed greatly to PCSOs. It seems that having someone walking the streets in uniform comforts many people. The response was that at first they were seen as a cheap alternative to regular Police Officers and a waste of space. As time went on, they proved their worth with the public by rectifying all the small problems that constables did not have the time to deal with. Below are extracts of some of the responses I got when I asked what other PCSOs felt was the public perception of us.
A PCSO from Derbyshire wrote:
“So far, the majority of the public that I have spoken to are happy to see me; most of the old folk come up and say it’s nice to see a bobby walking the streets again. I explain to them that I am not a police officer and all they say is ‘We don’t care that you don’t have all the powers of a police officer we just want to see you walking around the town sorting out all the yobs.’
The shopkeepers in the town have told me that since I started patrolling, the kids don’t play football against their shop windows anymore like they used to do.
The only people that have a bad word to say about me are the under aged smokers, drinkers in our town, the numerous boy racers who have had warnings and the few that have had their cars taken from them. The local shoplifters and drug users are also not my best friends
![]() | John Child cartoons! LOG ONTO HIS SITE RIGHT HERE for more cartoons and to contact him |
| FORUMS Prison Officers PCSOs H A T O S Windsor Safari Horse R | ||
| SITES Prison Officers H A T O S Police Community Support officer |