36 replies to this topic

[The Constable]

Hi

I don't mean to be rude or belittle PCSO's but......................

Why would you honestly want to be a Police Community Support Officer?

You have somewhat very limited powers compared to a Police Officer , you have no PPE and I presume no Officer Safety Training and not to mention the stick that PCSO's often get from the public and somewhat lack of respect (which is a shame from these gobby little crapbags)

Because we all know there is that ONE person who will just have to push their luck and be a little smart rear.

So answer me this please guys.... Why would you want to be a PCSO.


Thanks in advance for the insight

[Shikari]

Not everyone wants to be a copper......?

[Jon_b]

I know a CSO who says she would hate to be a police officer. She loves being out there interacting with the community, getting to know the people and help them on a local & personal level. Rather than bouncing from job to job in a patrol car.

[Sappmer]

When I went to the BTP PCSO assessment centre there was a guy there who was a PC in the met, he was once a PCSO for the met and went up, and said he much prefered being a CSO

[MC1]

1. So that they don't have to work behind a desk in an office
2. So there are various shift patterns
3.To walk about in the sun
4. To get involved with interesting police work
5. To learn about a certain area
6. To learn about life in general
7. To earn decent money
8. To make a difference, in some cases more than police officers.

[BlueBand]

All of the above, and the fact when PCSO's attend an incident, as soon as the initial job is over PCSO's can resume, whereas a Police Officer would have to remain at scene to take statements and then if applicable head back to the station to complete a package etc, all whilst the PCSO is back out and about on foot patrol.

[Nim]

* I get to be really creative and work with many different agencies, charities and local partners to resolve community issues which people really care about and are then really appreciative when it comes good.

* I get to learn an awful lot about the force and have an opportunity to learn the basic skills needed to be a good PC, which is where I want to go, but not everyone does. - And I get paid to do so.

* I enjoy working and interacting with people and I'm encouraged to be out and about and don't get burdened with stacks of paperwork which prevent my PC colleagues from doing so - as a result I am recognised and spoken to more than they are.

* It is a recognised and well trodden path into becoming a PC - if my force decides to recruit only internal candidates, I am in a good position alongside SCs.

* I learn great communication skills as a way of resolving issues and dealing with conflict - especially as I am nearly always single crewed.

Contrary to your opinion, I do get officer safety training, albeit not with baton, cuffs and CS and I have a stab vest and radio with a big red button for emergency situations. I think that when PCSOs first came in there was a lot of anger directed towards PCSOs as being policing on the cheap, but now we are recognised as doing an important job and people understand our role better, apart from the occasional person, most people I come across respect my role and think that I do a good job. - Probably because they see me more frequently than any other police officer and I make time to stop and talk to them and listen to their concerns. In return I get told an awful lot of intelligence which I pass back which aids my police colleagues. Yes my powers are more limited, but given that my application was frozen for regs a year ago, I was happy to have the opportunity to become a PCSO and learn and earn whilst I wait for an opportunity to arise again to join as a regular, this time armed with more information and experience of the job.

[Shikari]

* I get to be really creative and work with many different agencies, charities and local partners to resolve community issues which people really care about and are then really appreciative when it comes good.

* I get to learn an awful lot about the force and have an opportunity to learn the basic skills needed to be a good PC, which is where I want to go, but not everyone does. - And I get paid to do so.

* I enjoy working and interacting with people and I'm encouraged to be out and about and don't get burdened with stacks of paperwork which prevent my PC colleagues from doing so - as a result I am recognised and spoken to more than they are.

* It is a recognised and well trodden path into becoming a PC - if my force decides to recruit only internal candidates, I am in a good position alongside SCs.

* I learn great communication skills as a way of resolving issues and dealing with conflict - especially as I am nearly always single crewed.

Contrary to your opinion, I do get officer safety training, albeit not with baton, cuffs and CS and I have a stab vest and radio with a big red button for emergency situations. I think that when PCSOs first came in there was a lot of anger directed towards PCSOs as being policing on the cheap, but now we are recognised as doing an important job and people understand our role better, apart from the occasional person, most people I come across respect my role and think that I do a good job. - Probably because they see me more frequently than any other police officer and I make time to stop and talk to them and listen to their concerns. In return I get told an awful lot of intelligence which I pass back which aids my police colleagues. Yes my powers are more limited, but given that my application was frozen for regs a year ago, I was happy to have the opportunity to become a PCSO and learn and earn whilst I wait for an opportunity to arise again to join as a regular, this time armed with more information and experience of the job.

Well said Nimmeh, +1

[Giraffe]

I agree with Nim also. People who abuse PCSOs are exactly the same idiots who abuse police officers. The majority of PCSOs in my force do a good job.

[The Constable]

Thanks guys.

[Radman]

Hi

I don't mean to be rude or belittle PCSO's but......................

Why would you honestly want to be a Police Community Support Officer?

You have somewhat very limited powers compared to a Police Officer , you have no PPE and I presume no Officer Safety Training and not to mention the stick that PCSO's often get from the public and somewhat lack of respect (which is a shame from these gobby little crapbags)

Because we all know there is that ONE person who will just have to push their luck and be a little smart rear.

So answer me this please guys.... Why would you want to be a PCSO.


Thanks in advance for the insight

The 21k a year had something to do with it for me when I was 18.

Why would I want to be a Special, give up alot of my down time for free when I could be earning a very good wage for a lad my age and still have a social life.

Turns out I made the right choice as alot of Cadet mates who joined the Specials at 18 are still Specials now five years on.

[Deividdo]

Being a PCSO means you're far more connected to the community, and so people who prefer supporting and helping people will suit the role. The reason for the bad and negative views stems from the fact that they have limited powers and people think they can't do anything, especially the ones who just want to cause trouble.

I think being a PCSO is a very valuable role and you'd gain a great experience from it. It's a good alternative for people who are working or have other commitments, but want to have a varied job at the same time, and being in a more community-based role.

I'd quite happily take the role of PCSO, but I want the chance for a much more different experience being a member of the SC.

Edited by Deividdo, 01 February 2012 - 03:27 PM.

[Wozza182]

I've been a PCSO in the Met for 3 and a half years now, when I first applied it was to test the water and find out about the policing world. The wages are great, the shifts are great and I am now about to start training as a regular.

The Public really like PCSO's, we are the ones that conduct the reassurance visits after a robbery or burglary etc.

The walking around, sometimes with police officers is great, seeing and dealing with things Joe Public wouldn't ever see.

Learning the basics of law and how to deal with situations, learning radio etiquette. I've really enjoyed the past 3 or so years, but it's now time to move on and develope myself.

I couldn't be a PCSO as my career. It's a great way of getting into the job though.

[pcso]

Hi

I don't mean to be rude or belittle PCSO's but......................

Why would you honestly want to be a Police Community Support Officer?

You have somewhat very limited powers compared to a Police Officer , you have no PPE and I presume no Officer Safety Training and not to mention the stick that PCSO's often get from the public and somewhat lack of respect (which is a shame from these gobby little crapbags)

Because we all know there is that ONE person who will just have to push their luck and be a little smart rear.

So answer me this please guys.... Why would you want to be a PCSO.


Thanks in advance for the insight

[pcso]

Neighbourhood policing although a Labour idea has proved to be a success. The main reason PCSO's where introduced in 2002 was to provide an extra uniformed presence on the streets. I personaly do think that the role was rushed through without much thought regarding powers and where we would sit in the policing family. A major part of Neighbourhood policing is intelligence gathering, interacting with the public and been seen and approachable. I have members of the public who would rather approach me with a problem rather than a police officer. You could argue that more powers can mean less time spent on the street. Although I do feel that PPE is something that should be looked at. If I see outside a pub a male on the floor getting his head kicked in by a yob. My instructions are to observe and report. But yes in the real world I am going to put myself at risk by going over and doing what I canto help and prevent serious injury. There is public expectation that you are wearing a uniform and expected to help. Due to the cuts that are taking place in all the public sector roles. I can see a lot of forces dispensing with their PCSO's. This is a pity because a lot of ASB and qulaity of life calls will get a low priority and at best may get a phone call from the control room. I know longer feel secure in my job which I have done for 9 years. With hindsight I should have applied for the police. I know they are losing to a certain extent financially but at least they can never be made redundant.

[Gareth_h]

I was a special for a short period and if I got involved in something, unlike most; I would stick with it and see it through until the end. Which meant I did all the paperwork, follow up and files that went with it. Did it for 4 months before starting as a PCSO and I have absolutely no desire to be a police officer now.

I'm out there and I am able to generate my own workload, speak to people and still attend most of the types of incidents a police officer would but without any of the hassle that follows, calls have come in and I have been there within 2 minutes because I've been about 100 yards away on foot.

I would say one of our main tasks is intelligence gathering. I would say about 90% of drugs warrants we execute are from information submitted by PCSOs. Information we wouldn't get if we only had police officers driving around in cars.

[pcso]

I was a special for a short period and if I got involved in something, unlike most; I would stick with it and see it through until the end. Which meant I did all the paperwork, follow up and files that went with it. Did it for 4 months before starting as a PCSO and I have absolutely no desire to be a police officer now.

I'm out there and I am able to generate my own workload, speak to people and still attend most of the types of incidents a police officer would but without any of the hassle that follows, calls have come in and I have been there within 2 minutes because I've been about 100 yards away on foot.

I would say one of our main tasks is intelligence gathering. I would say about 90% of drugs warrants we execute are from information submitted by PCSOs. Information we wouldn't get if we only had police officers driving around in cars.

Well said gareth

[SCtechy]

One of the PCSOs in my force was a PC for 2 years, decided it wasnt the job for him and then rejoined the same force as a PCSO. He now covers a very rural area and when hes not on foot in the small villages he has his own personal PCSO 4x4 (as hes the only PCSO at that station) As a result he has more freedom than the PCSOs in bigger towns and ironically more freedom than the PCs working out of his nick who are stuck behind desks putting files together (usually for poaching jobs)

[Big Brother]

The question is why would I want to be a cop?

I've been a PCSO for 9 years, I get paid £25k a year, I only have to work until 10/12, I have all the powers so I am authorised to deal with anything I come across, BUT I don't get stuck with the rubbish at the end of it. I can be involved in an arrest, do a quick statement and be back out on the street within an hour and the last time I got abuse just for being a PCSO was about 7 years ago, and that was before we could detain people.

In some forces, PCSOs who have powers to detain e.t.c. do the jobs that cops should be doing except they can't because they're stuck behind a desk.

[Charlotte08]

Hi

I don't mean to be rude or belittle PCSO's but......................

Why would you honestly want to be a Police Community Support Officer?

You have somewhat very limited powers compared to a Police Officer , you have no PPE and I presume no Officer Safety Training and not to mention the stick that PCSO's often get from the public and somewhat lack of respect (which is a shame from these gobby little crapbags)

Because we all know there is that ONE person who will just have to push their luck and be a little smart rear.

So answer me this please guys.... Why would you want to be a PCSO.


Thanks in advance for the insight

BTP PCSOs are armed with more equipment than Standard Issue Met ones (handcuffs etc) and often (almost always) patrol in groups, and with PCs within that group.. I thought all PCSOs were given Officer Safety Training too, and i think this training has to be attended / provided on an annual basis?

I'm in the process of awaiting the date for my medical and having references / security checks and i personally cannot wait to join the BTP as a PCSO. I think it's a job to be proud of and an opportunity to really make a difference. Yes, the powers of a PCSO are limited compared to a PC, but that does not mean they have no impact whatsoever?

Charlotte

The question is why would I want to be a cop?

I've been a PCSO for 9 years, I get paid £25k a year, I only have to work until 10/12, I have all the powers so I am authorised to deal with anything I come across, BUT I don't get stuck with the rubbish at the end of it. I can be involved in an arrest, do a quick statement and be back out on the street within an hour and the last time I got abuse just for being a PCSO was about 7 years ago, and that was before we could detain people.

In some forces, PCSOs who have powers to detain e.t.c. do the jobs that cops should be doing except they can't because they're stuck behind a desk.

I agree, but just a small point - doesn't everyone have the power to detain?

Charlotte

Oh, and my boyfriend, when he was a PCSO for the Met spent 6 of the 8 hours of his duty out on the street (by order of the Duty Inspector) but as a PC spends 10 out of the 12 hours doing paperwork, if dealing with an arrest. Custody alone can take 4-5 hours sometimes!!

[Übèrnamè]

Easy money. Simple.

[S.Husky]

I'm not sure on the accuracy of this, but during my training while we were learning 24 and 24A of PACE. Although TVP PCSOs are allowed to detain, they are not allowed to use force and are apparantly exempt from 24A so cant "Citizens Arrest" while on duty

Please correct me if anybody knows otherwise

EDIT: Spelling

Edited by S.Husky, 22 May 2012 - 07:48 PM.

[BlueBand]

Interesting...

[S.Husky]

As a side note, we were also taught that a PCSOs powers are a per force thing. There is a list of powers available however it is decided by the force which ones to grant.

Again, not sure of accuracy. I'm still in training as a special and am yet to have any field experience but we get side tracked onto other topics in the classroom!

Edited by S.Husky, 22 May 2012 - 07:54 PM.

[Lucas North]

I'm not sure on the accuracy of this, but during my training while we were learning 24 and 24A of PACE. Although TVP PCSOs are allowed to detain, they are not allowed to use force and are apparantly exempt from 24A so cant "Citizens Arrest" while on duty

Please correct me if anybody knows otherwise

EDIT: Spelling

You are a citizen, yes?

Therefore, you are allowed to use S.24a PACE to arrest someone and S.3 CLA to use reasonable force whilst effecting said arrest.

If you are being told that you're "not allowed to" then your Force is talking rubbish. The law is the law.