Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)

Compassionate. Resourceful. Inquisitive. Sound like you? As a police community support officer you will earn as you learn, gain a fully-funded qualification and make a difference in your local community.

Why should you become a PCSO?

  • Our PCSO training programme combines practical and theory-based learning to equip you with the skills and confidence to engage with local communities, help to prevent crime and build valued relationships.
  • During the 12-15 month apprenticeship you’ll earn as you learn and achieve a Level 4 Diploma in Community Policing Practice on successful completion.
  • You will be supported to succeed by experienced officers and PCSO colleagues on your shift, as well as our training and assessment staff.

What is a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)?

As a PCSO, you will work within a neighbourhood policing team to engage with local communities and partners, build positive relationships, identify community issues, and implement solutions to keep communities safe. You will handle incidents within your area, conduct initial investigations, and ensure scene preservation when necessary.

Providing quality service to victims and witnesses of crime and anti-social behaviour is key, including identifying vulnerable individuals and ensuring their safety. You will participate in briefings, operations, and other policing activities.

Your role involves liaising with community partners to resolve issues, prevent crime, and provide advice. Being approachable and adaptable will help you build and maintain positive relationships, making you a respected figure in the community. When it comes to being a PCSO, you must be resourceful, diplomatic, motivated, and connected with the community. While you don’t have arrest powers, handcuffs, or batons, you will rely on your training, communication, and interpersonal skills to manage challenging situations.

You need to stand up for yourself and handle confrontations, but you’ll always have support from police officers and other staff. The camaraderie in this role is unique and invaluable, especially during tough times.

You will take part in a 12-15 month apprenticeship programme combining practical and theory-based learning. Your training will start with two classroom phases, lasting around 3 months, based at Ponteland.

From the essentials like safety training and first aid to decision making and communication skills, your study will encompass all the skills and knowledge you need ready for the next step in your training. Some of your study will be delivered as tutorials, role-plays, self- study or e-learning.

Next, you’ll work in frontline policing. You’ll be based at a station alongside your experienced colleagues in a neighbourhood team, working one-to-one with an experienced tutor who will support you in putting your learning into practice as part of your operational duties. You’ll also have the opportunity to shadow experienced PCSOs out and about in the community.

Once you’ve successfully completed all the elements of the PCSO qualification, you’ll be awarded a level 4 diploma in community policing practice. This leads to your end point assessment and achievement of your apprenticeship.

To take care of your mental wellbeing we’ve invested in a welfare advice line that covers professional and personal issues, from finances to stress, bereavement or family matters. To complement this we have an occupational health provision, a number of peer-led support programmes and a 24/7 crisis telephone line. There’s also a specialist resource if you’ve been exposed to trauma on the job, having attended a distressing scene or incident. When it comes to physical health, many of our stations now have on-site gyms, and there’s a range of sports & social clubs open for you to join, whatever your interest. You can find out more about our range of police staff benefits you’ll have access to from day one.
 

It’s important to note that those serving in front line roles can face confrontation and aggression, but being physically assaulted is not something that we accept as ‘part of the job’. If you’ve been assaulted in the course of your duty, we have rigorous processes in place to ensure your line manager provides wrap-around support and that a crime is recorded.

The key areas of learning within the apprenticeship programme are:

  • Valuing difference and inclusion
  • Maintaining professional standards
  • Decision making and discretion
  • Communication and teamworking skills
  • Wellbeing and resilience
  • Managing conflict
  • Vulnerability and risk
  • Problem solving and evidence-based policing
  • Supporting communities and partnership building
  • Dealing with minor crime

Alongside gaining the specific skills that will set you up for your role as a PCSO, we will
also help you to build transferable skills that you can use throughout your future career.

Your knowledge, skills and behaviours will be continuously observed and assessed throughout the classroom phases of your apprenticeship programme by a variety of methods, including:

  • Written assessments
  • Multiple choice exams
  • Role play scenarios
  • Presentations
  • Reflective accounts

Starting from Day 1 of your training, your salary will be £25,098 rising to £27,531 after 3 years.

On top of your basic salary, you’ll also be entitled to a generous shift allowance, which could add up to 20% to your take home pay. This could equate to a potential total of £31,748 – £34,826 based on a standard shift pattern.

There are some qualifications required to becoming a PCSO as well as eligibility criteria. You can find out more on our PCSO eligibility page.

No. The academic costs of the apprenticeship programme are covered by Northumbria Police.

What you need to know before you apply

Eligibility Requirements

Review your eligibility against the conditions to become a PCSO.

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Application Process

Understand the application process and preparation required.

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Police Staff Benefits

Explore a whole host of police staff benefits you’ll get from day one*.

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Why choose TeamNP?

Thriving support networks, our investment in your wellbeing and more.

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Take your first steps into policing.

Come and have a go if you think you care enough. What it takes is already in you. Applications to join our February 2026 cohort of Police Community Support Officers are now open. Before you start your application, we recommend you find out more about the application process, eligibility requirements, police staff benefits, and life at #TeamNP. You can also contact our Talent Acquisition team if you have any questions about becoming a PCSO ahead of your application.

Apply now