New recruitment drive for Police Community Support Officers

Wiltshire Police are launching their autumn recruitment campaign for Police Community Support Officers - known as PCSOs – who play an important community facing role within Community Policing Teams across Wiltshire and Swindon.

Applications are being accepted until Sunday 15 October 2017 and successful candidates will start training in April 2018.

PCSOs provide a visible patrolling presence, acting as an effective crime deterrent, especially with regard to minor crimes. PCSOs connect schools, community organisations and local authorities, working on issues such as anti-social behaviour and safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.

Wiltshire is a diverse county and the PCSO role can be hugely varied. As well as community liaison, they can also be called on to support operational teams with intelligence gathering for cases, ranging from cracking down on rural and cross border crime, to human trafficking, drugs networks and counter terrorism. 

Successful candidates do not need formal educational qualifications and must be at least 18 years old at the time of application.  Confidence, good communication skills, decision making and problem solving skills are all important.  They will join more than 100 PCSOs, including the latest 11 recruits who began their training at Devizes HQ four weeks ago.

Muhammad Hamid (Kashif) PCSO in training who will be posted to Swindon

They include Muhammad Hamid, known as Kashif, from Swindon who was previously a taxi driver and Kimberley Orza from Amesbury who is looking forward to her new posting in Salisbury post training.

Kashif said “I wanted to become a PCSO to act as a bridge between communities and the police and help the wider public. Joining the police has made me feel really proud.  I can’t believe I am really here doing my dream job.”

Kimberley used to be a Special Constable before successfully applying to be a PCSO, “I felt that my skills and abilities fitted this role really well. I fancied a change from being an estate agent and wanted to go full time and try something different” she said.

PCSOs work a 37 hour week including shifts. Shift patterns are decided locally, but consist of a mix of day and evening shifts covering a span of 16 hours from 7am to midnight. Weekend working forms part of the shift pattern.

The starting salary is £19,737 per annum rising to £20,763 plus up to 14% shift allowance. Benefits include pension scheme, 22 days annual leave and access to gym facilities and wellbeing services.  Career progression opportunities are good, learning transferable skills for roles such as Police Constable, Local Crime Investigator, or Contact Centre Operator.

For more information, please visit the Wiltshire Police website www.wiltshire.police.uk/jobs and search for PCSO. 

 Wiltshire Police recruitment team can be contacted at [email protected]  or the dedicated recruitment phone line on 01380 861121 (Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm).   Please do not call 101 for information about the recruitment process.