40 replies to this topic

[Future_officer]

Today BTP are recruiting PCSOs for London again, Why is that?

Was there not enough candidates for the Febuary recruitment PCSO campain?

Did many candidates who applied in Febuary fail the assessment?

Are people not interested in the role?

Edited by Future_officer, 17 April 2012 - 12:19 PM.

[SM17HY]

Link to the recruitment page for info: https://www.btprecru...7A942376774F8C6

Nice to see they are recruiting again - but I also ask the same as above, why so close to the last recruitment drive, I think that its very unlikely for there to be no interest in the role.

[oohraa]

Especially after the MET have just done a recruitment drive for PCSO's aswell

[Radman]

Especially after the MET have just done a recruitment drive for PCSO's aswell

Yeah but... Why be a Met PCSO when you can be a BTP one?

[MairiAitken]

I don't understand, there were 60 in just my assesment weekend in Feb, plus the same again I believe for another 2 weekends, and supposedly for only 20 jobs? I'm currently waiting on Vetting.
I hope this is good news for me as there may be more jobs than I'm aware of and not bad news that we have all failed vetting and they just haven't told us!
I also believe there is more than one wave as I was asked by recruitment which wave I was in (I didn't know there was more than one at the time but I believe I'm in the first)
This is so nerve racking I hope I Hear soon.

[little old me]

^{The wage is a bit low for a London based Job.}

[MairiAitken]

add london weighting and shift allowance it settles around £23000, not too bad for a foot in the right door.

[Radman]

^{The wage is a bit low for a London based Job.}

That estimate doesnt include London Weighting or shift allowance.

[Future_officer]

BTP also did a PCSO recruitment campain for London area last July lasting 2 weeks.

What I found very surprising - exactly 2 months since the end of the PCSO recruitment drive in Febuary this year, BTP are recruiting again for the same role. This usually doesn't occur.

How come the MET got 3700 applications for PCSOs and BTP have to continue to recruit PCSOs? 3 times in the last 9 months. Don't people realise BTP PCSOs carry handcuffs?

It seems more people are interested in applying for the role of becoming a PC (last PC recruitment campain BTP got 4000 + applications) rather than applying for PCSOs. That is my opinion.

[Future_officer]

I don't know if this is true but it's what I have been told.

PCSOs who have recently applied for the MET, if they are successful in the recruitment process, can only stay in the job for 2 years. The new MET PCSO contract are only 2 year contracts. It's what is written on the contracts. After 2014 PCSOs can be made redundant, those who have applied now. I hope BTP will not copy the MET. If they did in 2014 alot of people within the police service will be out of work unless they apply for the PC position internally.

Has anyone also heard that story or something similar?

Edited by Future_officer, 17 April 2012 - 03:26 PM.

[Radman]

I don't know if this is true but it's what I have been told.

PCSOs who have recently applied for the MET, if they are successful in the recruitment process, can only stay in the job for 2 years. The new MET PCSO contract are only 2 year contracts. It's what is written on the contracts. After 2014 PCSOs can be made redundant, those who have applied now. I hope BTP will not copy the MET. If they did in 2014 alot of people within the police service will be out of work unless they apply for the PC position internally.

Has anyone heard that story aswell?

A lot of forces have been doing that for years - you generally WONT lose your job after your contract is up it will simply be 'renewed' every two years. SYP has been doing this ever since the PCSO role came to be.

BTP on the other hand offer permanent contracts to its PCSO staff without renewal- THIS IS STILL THE CASE NOW.

So lets re-cap:

• Same Pay
  
• Better Powers
  
• Better Training
  
• Better Equipment
  
• Internal Recruitment Scheme to PC
  
• Permanent long-term contracts of employment.

I ask the question again, why be a Met PCSO when you can be a BTP one?

[Future_officer]

Radman,

I ask the same question? Also don't forget there is less politics involvement in BTP. Met has alot.

There's also an internal recruitment scheme to PC if a person applies for the role of DDO.

Edited by Future_officer, 17 April 2012 - 03:35 PM.

[Radman]

Radman,

I ask the same question? Also don't forget there is less politics involvement in BTP. Met has alot.

There's also an internal recruitment scheme to PC if a person applies for the role of DDO.

DDO is a good little job aswell, I dont know if i'd like being in the cells all day/night though.

After all...

Edited by Radman, 17 April 2012 - 05:20 PM.

[fodfather]

this internal campaign if you apply to be a PCSO, DDO etc - its not exactly a campaign persee.

BTP have recently done an internal campaign - the first of its kind - which was only open to internal applicants, so to clarify:- BTP PCSO, DDO (DO), SPC & Police Staff.

Theres a few rumours flying around about BTP changing the SOP so in future you will have to had been one of the above internal positions for 12 months before applying for PC but that is just rumour atm.

Good luck to all for the PCSO recruitment. Be worth looking here at what powers we have compared to every other force in the country. BTP PCSO's are superb!

[Radman]

this internal campaign if you apply to be a PCSO, DDO etc - its not exactly a campaign persee.

BTP have recently done an internal campaign - the first of its kind - which was only open to internal applicants, so to clarify:- BTP PCSO, DDO (DO), SPC & Police Staff.

Theres a few rumours flying around about BTP changing the SOP so in future you will have to had been one of the above internal positions for 12 months before applying for PC but that is just rumour atm.

Good luck to all for the PCSO recruitment. Be worth looking here at what powers we have compared to every other force in the country. BTP PCSO's are superb!

Best way to do things in my opinion.

[skylark]

this internal campaign if you apply to be a PCSO, DDO etc - its not exactly a campaign persee.

BTP have recently done an internal campaign - the first of its kind - which was only open to internal applicants, so to clarify:- BTP PCSO, DDO (DO), SPC & Police Staff.

Theres a few rumours flying around about BTP changing the SOP so in future you will have to had been one of the above internal positions for 12 months before applying for PC but that is just rumour atm.

Good luck to all for the PCSO recruitment. Be worth looking here at what powers we have compared to every other force in the country. BTP PCSO's are superb!

I've already been told as a community volunteer I need to have been volunteering for 12 months before applying to any internal vacancies.

[Future_officer]

BTP are from today again for the 3rd time recruiting PCSOs for the London area. Assessments will take place on the 9th of June. This 3rd recruitment drive is to fill BTP PCSO July and September intake. Once they have gathered enough applicants this 3rd recruitment drive will end, presumably in a few days, possibly middle or the end of this week.

How many PCSOs did BTP recruit from the Febuary recruitment drive?

How many PCSOs did BTP recruit from the April recruitment drive?

I'm curious to know, how many PCSOs does BTP want to recruit this time round?

Edited by Future_officer, 21 May 2012 - 12:59 PM.

[gillies88]

Ive passed the April intake AC and waiting for medical, vetting etc. Unsure of how many will be on my intake if I do indeed get on a course starting 30th July

[Frank Castle]

A lot of forces have been doing that for years - you generally WONT lose your job after your contract is up it will simply be 'renewed' every two years. SYP has been doing this ever since the PCSO role came to be.

BTP on the other hand offer permanent contracts to its PCSO staff without renewal- THIS IS STILL THE CASE NOW.

So lets re-cap:

• Same Pay
  
• Better Powers
  
• Better Training
  
• Better Equipment
  
• Internal Recruitment Scheme to PC
  
• Permanent long-term contracts of employment.

I ask the question again, why be a Met PCSO when you can be a BTP one?

Evening All.

Ive applied to become a BTP PCSO. How much service do you need to get on the internal recruitment to PC scheme?

Im currently a MET special,but have no idea when vacancies will open plus need a full time job.

Seems along time being a special before you can became a PC?

[Future_officer]

Frank,

Have you applied today, in April or in Febuary for the PCSO position? To be eligable in BTP to apply to become a PC from being a PCSO - you have to wait 1 year. It takes one year for a PCSO to finish their probation, after they finish their probation they then will be permitted to apply internally for PC. For police staff such as a DDO they just have to wait 6 months before a DDO is eligable to apply internally for a PC job.

You should consider applying for communication officer incase PCSO doesn't work out. An option B. It's a job that's as good as a PCSO and DDO, in my opinion.

I was a special with the MET for more than 4 years and was still not a full time officer. I tried but it didn't work out. Sometimes being a special isn't always the way into full time employment as a PC. When that failes try other jobs within the police service which are as good or possibly even better if a person has an ambition to one day become a PC, they should in my opinion, apply for a police staff role such as Communication officer, DDO or a PCSO job.

[MairiAitken]

I have been successful from the feb recruitment drive. Start training on Monday not sure how many of us there will be but I will let you know once I find out.

[Stigy]

Hi all!

Can anybody confirm the salary of PCSO in London from appointment? Also, do PCSOs get free travel to/from work on National Rail services? Regarding the latter, they never used to, but I did hear a rumour to suggest otherwise in recent months. Thanks!

[MairiAitken]

The whole travel thing is a bit complicated however the answer is yes. During training you get an allowance of distance for travel on national rail and you apply for a residence pass for this. I would go into detail but our whole group got confused you will see when you get there once you have finished training you also get London underground and buses free to and from
Work/on duty (obviously) and if you work in LU you also get this off duty but only LU Different areas have different money allowances. Hope this helps a little. As for pay it's just shy of 19000 then around 2400 on top for London allowance and once you start active duty there is 15% shift allowance.

[Übèrnamè]

MET still pays more, but there's less stability it seems. (Although they have just done another recruitment drive so who knows)

[MairiAitken]

Indeed met is a fixed term contract BTP is permanent