PCSO Background & Policy

PCSOs are becoming an increasingly important part of the police ‘family’ and their role is an interesting and evolving one.

The post of PCSO is sometimes used as a stepping-stone into other police staff careers, or can lead to tutoring new PCSOs as some forces have introduced a PCSO supervisory role. It is a good starting point for those wishing to become police officers.

There is no national Pay structure, and pay varies from Force to Force (from about £14.000 to £26,000).

Nationally PCSO policy is overseen by the ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) officer who has responsibility for the National Neighbourhood Policing Team. Accordingly, in most Forces it is the Neighbourhood Policing Implementation Team (although some Forces have chosen to house PCSOs within Territorial Operations Departments or Community Safety & Partnerships).

The number of PCSOs allocated to each Force is decided by a process of negotiation between the relevant Police Force, it’s Police Authority and the Home Office.

The Chief Police Officers’ View of PCSOs