Home Office encourages women to make a difference in their local community

Become a Police Community Support Officer

How important is your local community to you? Are you keen to be an active member of it and be at the forefront of tackling key issues such as anti-social behaviour?

These days it seems that almost every town and city in England and Wales is facing an ongoing battle with a range of crime and disorder problems and if that’s something you’re keen to change then you may like to consider becoming a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO). As a PCSO, you will work on the frontline of your local force, providing a visible and reassuring presence on the streets and tackling the menace of anti-social behaviour. Although PCSOs do not have the same powers as regular police officers, they still carry a lot of responsibility and are a critical part of the police force.

Depending on where you work, you could find yourself dealing with minor offences, providing support for front-line policing, conducting house-to-house enquiries, guarding crime scenes and providing crime prevention advice. The early intervention of PCSOs can often deter people from committing offences, and stop minor problems getting worse.

So who can become a PCSO? Well, applicants from all backgrounds and ethnic groups are welcomed and there’s no particular age group limit - in fact, if you’re looking for a career change this might be just what you’ve been looking for.

Pay for PCSOs varies from force to force, but usually starts at around £16,000. If you see yourself as confident, level headed, thick skinned but sensitive, have the stamina for long stretches on foot patrol and have good communication skills then you could be just what your local community needs…. You may have already applied for an application form but are unsure how to complete it or you require answers to questions before sending your form back. Whatever the reason, if you think you’ve got what it takes and want to make a real difference to your community then join Inspector Nikki Evans, (Lancashire Police) and PCSO Rachel Semczszym (Thames Valley Police) on Monday 5th February.

Nikki Evans and Rachel Semczszym join us to discuss how you can make a real difference to your community at Log on at http://www.webchats.tv/webchat.php?ID=342&past=