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What is a Police Community Support Officer?
PSCOs are Police Authority-employed staff who can perform a high visibility, patrolling role providing reassurance to the communities they serve.
They complement the work of police officers by focusing predominantly on lower level crime, disorder and anti social behaviour.
They are an important weapon in the Government’s drive to crack down on the types of anti-social behaviour and nuisance which so blight communities
and make people’s lives a misery.
What powers do PCSOs have?
PCSOs do not have the same powers as a police officer, yet they are a visible presence and an effective crime deterrent,
especially with regard to anti-social behaviour.
As well as being able to issue fixed penalty tickets for minor anti-social behaviour, PCSOs can also demand the name and address of a person
acting in an anti-social manner.
Other PCSO powers include being able to confiscate alcohol being consumed in a public place, confiscate tobacco from young people, remove abandoned
vehicles and seize any vehicles that are being used to potentially harm other people. A full list of PCSO powers can be found below.
What is the job specification for joining?
PCSOs have to be good communicators so excellent verbal and written communication is essential. PCSOs spend their shifts working in communities so
previous experience of working with people within communities is preferred. It is desirable to have a full UK driving licence and be computer literate.
You may apply for the position of Police Community Support Officer on reaching the age of 18.
What hours do they work?
PCSOs work shifts; they are mostly deployed between the hours of 7.00am and 3.00am, depending on the area in which they work. During their duty they
will normally be deployed on foot in allocated areas; they will not patrol in vehicles.
What uniform do they wear?
Avon and Somerset Constabulary PCSOs uniform consists of blue polo shirt, blue jumper, blue fleece, black protective vest, blue waterproof jacket,
black trousers and black safety boots.
What are they paid?
PCSOs can expect to earn, following training, between £17,106 and £18,969 plus allowances (shifts and weekend working).
Also for your information, if you are successful, you will be employed as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) and will be a member of a Safer, Stronger Neighbourhood team.
With effect from 1 March 2009 it is a contractual requirement of your employment that your photograph will be taken and published on the internet and in other publicity material
as a member of the team. Your photograph/image can also be used by the force for other education, awareness or publicity purposes. The organisation retains the right to use the
image throughout the course of your employment unless a specific request has been made in writing and accepted by a Chief Officer or the Head of Corporate Communications. This does
not affect your rights with external agencies or media.
Standard Powers -
From 1 December 2007 all PCSOs nationally have the following powers:
| Environmental Powers |
Power to issue fixed penalty notices in respect of offences under dog control orders. (L/A FPNs)
Power of issue fixed penalty notices for littering.(L/A FPNs)
Power to remove abandoned vehicles |
Transport Powers |
Power to issue fixed penalty notices for cycling on a footpath.
Power to stop cycles.
Power to carry out road checks
Power to require name and address for road traffic offences.
Power to control traffic for purposes other than escorting a load of exceptional dimensions
Power to place signs.
Power to seize vehicles used to cause alarm. |
| Alcohol, Drug and Tobacco Powers |
Power to require persons drinking in designated places to surrender alcohol.
Power to require persons aged under 18 to surrender alcohol
Power to seize tobacco from a person aged under 16.
Power to seize drugs and require name and address for possession of drugs.
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| Powers to Tackle Anti-Social Behaviour |
Power to require name and address for anti-social behaviour.
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| Enforcement Powers |
Power to require name and address.
Power to photograph persons away from a police station. |
| Security Powers |
Power to enter and search any premises for the purpose of saving life and limb or preventing serious damage to property.
Power to stop and search in authorised areas.
Power to enforce cordoned areas. |
In addition to the standard powers, the Chief Constable is able to designate a number of discretionary powers. In Avon and Somerset Constabulary, the additional powers
designated are:
| Environmental Powers |
Power of issue fixed penalty notices for dog fouling (L/A FPNs)
Power to issue fixed penalty notices for graffiti and fly-posting. (L/A FPNs) |
Transport Powers |
Power to stop vehicles for testing.
Power to direct traffic for the purpose of escorting abnormal loads
Power to issue PND for throwing fireworks and trespassing on a railway and throwing stones on a railway |
| Alcohol, Drug and Tobacco Powers |
Limited Power to enter licensed premises.
Power to enforce certain licensing offences.
Power to issue PNDs for: sale of alcohol to a person under 18; purchase of alcohol for person under 18; delivery of alcohol to a person under 18; buying or attempting to buy
alcohol by an under 18; drinking in a designated area; consumption of alcohol by person under 18 or allowing such consumption; selling or attempting to sell alcohol to a person that is drunk.
Power to issue PND for drunk and disorderly behaviour; drunk in highway |
| Powers to tackle anti-social behaviour |
Power to deal with begging.
Power to disperse groups and remove persons under 16 to their place of residence (in designated dispersal zones only)
Power to issue PND for breach of fireworks curfew; possession of a category 4 firework; possession by a person under 18 of an adult firework; supply of excessively loud firework. |
| Enforcement Powers |
Power to issue fixed penalty notices for truancy.
Power to issue fixed penalty notices for excluded pupil found in a public place.
Power to remove truants to designated premises.
Power to enforce byelaws.
Power to remove children in contravention of curfew notices to their place of residence.
Power to issue PND for destroying or damaging property (under £500), causing harassment, alarm or distress.
Power to issue PND for wasting police time, giving false report, using public network communications in order to cause annoyance;
knowingly giving false alarm to a person acting on behalf of a fire and rescue authority.
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The discretionary powers not designated to PCSOs in Avon and Somerset and cannot be used are:
| Enforcement Powers |
Power to detain.
Power to search detained persons for dangerous items or items that could be used to assist escape.
Power to use reasonable force to prevent a detained person making off.
Power us use reasonable force in relation to detained person.
Power to seize drugs (extension to standard power that includes the ability to detain).
Power to search for alcohol and tobacco. |
 PCSO main menu
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