PCSO
Entry Requirements

To join us as a police community support officer, you must have:

Level 2 English (a GCSE or iGCSE at grade C (level 4) or above, Functional Skills Level 2, Key Skills Level 2 (Communication and/or Literacy) or Adult Literacy Plus.

For under 19s, you will also need Level 2 Maths (GCSE or iGCSE at grade C (level 4) or above, Functional Skills Level 2, Key Skills Level 2 or Adult Numeracy Plus. This is desirable for over 19s.

AND

All applicants must have a minimum of one Level 3 (or higher) qualification, for example, one A-Level qualification.

OR

Relevant work experience that will support your progression into the PCSO role.

You are required to show proof of your qualifications when you apply. Without certificates, we will be unable to progress with your application.

If you do not currently hold Level 2 qualifications in English and/or Maths, read our guide to attaining Level 2 English and Maths or equivalent.

Whilst our health and fitness requirements are not nearly as demanding as you might think, you will need to be able to cope with the physical and emotional demands of the job.

It’s important you are aware that at the point of recruitment you will go through a medical assessment. This can result in an unsuccessful application due to previous or ongoing health conditions that may create an unacceptable risk in the role.

Misusing substances goes against everything the police stand for. If you currently use illegal drugs, you won’t be eligible to apply.

During the recruitment medical process, we test for substance misuse. If you’re an officer or special constable, we may also carry out substance misuse testing at any point during your career with us.

Police officers and staff hold privileged access to sensitive information and must be protected from potential corruption. While many people have debts like mortgages or student loans, you should be able to manage your debt sensibly. You should not have unmanaged or undischarged debts or liabilities. 

You’re unlikely to pass vetting if you have:

• An outstanding County Court Judgment (CCJ).
• If you’ve been registered bankrupt, and you’re applying less than three years after the date bankruptcy was discharged. Debt Relief Orders are treated similarly.

We recommend running a free credit report before applying to identify any defaulted accounts or CCJs that may affect your vetting.

Cautions or convictions will not necessarily prevent you from joining Northumbria Police. It will depend on the nature and the circumstances of the offence, and we consider each case individually. However, if you purposely withhold information as part of vetting, it will bring into question your honesty and integrity. 

If you are applying for a police staff position and have previous convictions or cautions which are protected, you do not have to disclose them on the vetting application form.

Circumstances that will prevent you from passing our vetting process include:

• Offences committed as an adult or juvenile which resulted in a prison sentence (including custodial, suspended or deferred sentence and sentences served at a young offenders’ institution or community home).
• The applicant is or has been a registered sex offender or is subject to a registration requirement in respect of any other conviction.

The following circumstances may also result in rejection:

• Offences where vulnerable people were targeted.
• Offences motivated by hate or discrimination.
• Offences of domestic abuse.

You must be at least 17 years old to apply. However, you cannot start employment until you turn 18 and have met the required qualifications.

There is no upper age limit for applying.

You must have lived continuously in the UK for the last three years before you apply. 

This ensures all applicants can be vetted fairly.

Residency criteria may depend on the vetting level of the role you are applying for.

If you’ve spent time overseas on a gap year or similar, this is generally considered an extended holiday (typically under 12 months), and you are still regarded as having maintained UK residency.

You must be a British citizen or resident in the UK free of restrictions (e.g. under the EU Settlement scheme or through the UK’s post-Brexit points-based immigration rules).

If you are not a British citizen, you must provide proof during the recruitment process that you have no restrictions on your stay in the UK and that you have the right to work in the UK.

You must always look smart and clean while representing the Force on duty. You can wear religious or cultural clothing, as long as it’s suitable for the role.

• Headwear – If you wear a turban or an Imama Shareef, make sure the force badge is clearly visible. If you wear a hijab or skullcap, you must wear your official headwear over it while on foot patrol.
• Facial hair – Operational officers should keep beards short to avoid health and safety risks. We may allow exceptions for religious reasons.
• Jewellery – We assess religious jewellery on a case-by-case basis. You may wear it if it doesn’t pose a significant health and safety risk and remains unobtrusive.

We have a policy to prevent officers and staff from becoming members of organisations or groups whose aims, objectives or pronouncements may contradict our duty to promote equality (e.g. BNP, Combat 18, National Front, etc.). Therefore, if you are a member of a proscribed organisation or other group, you will not be accepted.

Tattoos do not prevent applicants from joining the police. However, tattoos on the face are not acceptable other than for religious or medical reasons. Whether they’re visible or not, your tattoos should not:

• Undermine the dignity and authority of your role as a member of Northumbria Police.
• Cause offence to members of the public or colleagues and/or invite provocation.
• Indicate unacceptable attitudes towards any individual or section of the community.
• Indicate alignment with a particular group that could give offence to members of the public or colleagues.
• Be considered inflammatory, rude, lewd, crude, racist, sexist, sectarian, homophobic, violent or intimidating.

If your tattoo is determined as unacceptable, your application will not be progressed.

Our dress and appearance protocol outlines that officers should wear appropriate work wear which covers tattoos as far as possible when at work.

You must declare any other employment or business interests you intend to maintain while working or volunteering with Northumbria Police. It’s important that any additional employment, business interests or volunteering roles do not conflict with police duties or affect the reputation of Northumbria Police.

You must declare voluntary roles working with children or vulnerable adults (e.g. scout leaders).

Police officers and certain police staff roles are also restricted from engaging in political activity. This includes standing as a Member of Parliament or local councillor, or holding office in a political party.

If you have a family member, friend or associate with criminal convictions – or if you know they’re involved in criminal activity – you must declare this in your vetting application.

Explain your relationship with the individual, how often you see them, the nature of your connection, and what steps you’ve taken to distance yourself from their criminal behaviour. Share as much detail as you can based on what you know.

Having an inappropriate association doesn’t automatically disqualify you.

As part of our vetting process, we check that your activity and conduct online aligns with our Code of Ethics and standards of professional behaviour. We carry out open source checks on all applicants, including platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, YouTube, and others.

If you fail to declare relevant information as part of the vetting process, it may raise concerns about your honesty and integrity. We may therefore decline your vetting clearance. 

If you have been involved in an incident or received a caution or conviction, you should assume that it has been recorded on police systems, and therefore failing to disclose it could impact your application. 

If you declare something irrelevant, we will disregard it.