Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are an important part of the police family and effectively complement the work of police officers. The new faces add to, not replace, regular officers.
What do PCSOs do?
The role of a PCSO is to ease the burden on front line police officers and they aim to dedicate the majority of their time to public facing duties. PCSOs are the eyes and ears of the police in the community.
The role of a PCSO is one of responsibility and is highly varied. A typical day might start with a foot patrol of the neighbourhood, drop in visits to local residents and businesses to discuss low level crime, supporting fellow officers at a crime scene, before finishing the day at a local school speaking to parents and students.
The PCSO’s primary role is to provide a visible, reassuring police presence on the streets and to tackle minor crimes that concern people, like anti-social behaviour and graffiti. PCSOs are proving to be exceptionally good at developing strong links with their local community. In many areas, this has created a more positive dialogue between communities and the police than had previously been possible. This means that there are more links and more ways for people to express their opinions and receive feedback from the people responsible for community safety in their area.
Why not just employ more police officers?
There is a limit to the number of officers that police forces are allowed to employ so recruiting PCSOs is an excellent way to increase the number of uniformed staff who can make the streets of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight safer. The two roles are complimentary – PCSOs provide a visible presence and often deal with issues which do not require police officer attendance, freeing up police officers to carry out roles such as attending emergency calls, investigation and bringing cases to court and offenders to justice. We need to provide a more visible and accessible uniformed foot patrol to tackle quality of life issues. PCSOs are not replacements for police officers - they are an additional resource and add value to our policing service.
How can I tell the difference between a PCSO and a police officer?
PCSOs wear a uniform that makes them recognisable as being employees of Hampshire Constabulary, but distinct from police officers. All PCSOs will carry personal identification.
PCSOs wear:
- Flat cap with blue band and silver Hampshire Police badge
- White uniform shirt
- Blue tie
- Blue epaulettes on their shoulders
- ‘Police Community Support Officer’ will be marked on the front and back of outer garments
Can a PCSO arrest me?
No, that is not part of their role. However, a PCSO can issue fixed penalty notices for a range of offences from littering to disorder, confiscate alcohol if necessary, stop vehicles as part of a road check and perform a range of other duties. A PCSO can detain a person for up to 30 minutes while they wait for police attendance, and they are always in contact with the police control room via their radio.
Could I be a PCSO?
As the face of the police in the community Hampshire Constabulary is keen to attract applicants of all ages from all walks of life. Visit our recruiting page for more information.
