57 replies to this topic

[Headset57]

The more I think about it, the more I reckon PCSO's should never have had 'Police' in their title. I personally think 'Community Support Officer' would have been far less confusing - especially with the 'explain to your mates what a special is' debate (which I'm sure we've all had) - How many times has someone said "Oh, so you're one of those £26k wannabe policemen are you?"...

My thinking is without 'Police' they would be simply Community Support Officers (CSO's). This would bring them in line with Civil Enforcement Officers (Traffic wardens), Wildlife Officers (Environmental Agency), Licensing Officers (Security Industry) and a whole host of other 'Officer' positions that do not have police powers but who enforce some legislation or other.

Why give them a name that signifies a power they do not have? I think this has contributed greatly to the confusion, and in some cases resentment of CSO's.

I do not want this to become a debate on the role they play, just on the name they have been given.

Any thoughts?

It's not confusing at all.Your only confusing it.

[trevor]

You have it in one. If other people are ignorant of the role, not my problem. Much as many people are confused about the law, does not mean as the police we should say"Oh no! Let's stop what we're doing" Ideally we would drop the 'community' and ' support', have extended training and be attested by a magistrate, but the government will never truly admit they were wrong.
So lump it. I am a POLICE community support officer on my contract, so that is my job title.

Yes and be proud of it... Police Community Support officers are the most valued members of the Policing Team and i think they have it harder than PCs and SCs... So what if people say to you oh are you a PCSO... at least they notice the police in the community... and they do a valued job of linking the Police to the Community... and bridging the gap between the Police and the Public

The Public trust PCSOs its something the Police never fully had before PCSO came around. Neighbourhood policing is the way forward.



The same and their Role Should Stay the same, however because of the mass media the public will always have a bad impression of their role, However PCSO’S are part of the family and their here to stay…

[Obsidian_Eclipse]

You should be proud of your job, if your not then there's something wrong.

I'm still getting the impression however that certain officers (it may only be a minority) emphasize the POLICE more than the COMMUNITY SUPPORT and I'm not talking about on the backs of flourescent jackets. It may say 'police community support officer' on your contract but there are also 'police support clerks' who dont feel the need to emphasize the police part of their role... Yes, fine I'm proud to work for the police just as much as many are and tend to refer to myself as primarily a constable who works for the nottinghamshire police, strange how semantics work eh?

PCSO is the role as it has been defined in our force. There is no need to change it unless there is going to be changes to the role. Changing SCs to Reserve PCs wouldn't meen anything unless the role changed either, so as it is it should stay.

I have also seen 'POLICE VOLUNTEER' on the backs of jackets when we've had Police Support Volunteers who perform volunteer admin posts and help out with faites - they will also be doing speed checks at some point too. 'POLICE SUPPORT' has been used for Scientific Support personel and CCTV operators. Now, all these jackets say police on them but that doesnt mean they are police officers and if they behaved as though they were then they probably wont stay around for very long.

Confusion could arise with any number of these roles in the public domain but so far there hasnt been an issue (to my knowledge). I dont think its the alphabetical branding which has caused problems with the role of PCSO and the public, more over the style of uniform which most forces are still blatently disregarding the NPIAs recommendations (some even went more PCish with the introduction of black epaulettes, black tie, checkered headband and force crest! This was short lived however..)

[ojm947]

most forces are still blatently disregarding the NPIAs recommendations (some even went more PCish with the introduction of black epaulettes, black tie, checkered headband and force crest! This was short lived however..)

Sussex still issue there PCSOs with the above kit, even some of its own PCs cant tell the difference from about 5 meters away.

[MattM]

Don't know if this has been mentioned but Surrey seem to of dropped the Police bit of a PCSO's uniform and seem to be known as CSO now, with Surrey Police written below it.

[cfnbryn]

Some police force's do call them CSO's and not PCSO's.
Personally I think PCSO is a better title as it reflects their role better. Supporting the Police AND the Community.
Now what bugs me is even though Direct.gov have changed it, people wonder why the public get confused between Specials, and PCSOs and PCs etc, who can do what and so on... well how the hell do we expect the public to be able to get it right when the government can't even get it right.

[ojm947]

Don't know if this has been mentioned but Surrey seem to of dropped the Police bit of a PCSO's uniform and seem to be known as CSO now, with Surrey Police written below it.

Yes but they are still referred too as PCSOs within Surrey. It is just written like that on the uniform to prevent confusion.

Edited by Xmas947, 07 December 2009 - 09:42 PM.

[BlueBand]

Still PCSO in my force, not been CSO for many years. Think the unions had something to do with the name change.