A GUIDE TO BECOMING A

POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICER

SURREY.POLICE.UK/JOBS
 Being a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) offers a
challenging, yet incredibly rewarding career.

Our PCSOs play a vital role in keeping Surrey safe; working

alongside our area policing teams to prevent and tackle local
issues.

This guide aims to provide you with all you need to know
about the role, the application process and to answer the more
commonly asked questions we receive.

1. BEING A PCSO
2. ELIGIBILITY
3. APPLICATION PROCESS
4. TRAINING AND PROGRESSION
5. CONCERNED ABOUT APPLYING?
6. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
1. BEING A PCSO

From dealing with anti-social behaviour, taking This is a career where genuinely everyday is
different. You’ll find yourself:
statements from victims of crime to providing
reassurance and helping resolve community • going on highly visible foot patrols
challenges; you’ll play a critical, visible role in
• reassuring the public after neighbourhood
helping keep our communities safe, identifying and local crimes or anti-social behaviour
and protecting the most vulnerable, and
• building relationships with community,
preventing harm. religious, and business leaders

• working with young people and local

schools

• making house visits to gather intelligence

You’ll be out and about
on the streets of Surrey, • collecting CCTV evidence

building relationships, • supporting missing person enquiries

engaging with the • protecting crime scenes until police
public and winning the officers arrive

trust of communities. • providing crime prevention and personal

safety advice

• offering support at large public

gatherings, sports events, and public
demonstrations.

As the face of local policing for the community

you’ll need to act with the utmost integrity and
professionalism, always.

As the first point of contact for the community,

you’ll need to be a great communicator; calm,
confident and compassionate. You’ll need to be
able to listen carefully, think through challenges
and find solutions. You’ll work closely with
your police officer colleagues and community
leaders; making a real difference, together.

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1. BEING A PCSO (CONTINUED)

PCSOs have a number of powers designated assistance programme for advice and
to them by the Chief Constable including counselling, access to discounts / savings /
the powers to deal with a wide range of cash-back rewards
situations including issuing fixed penalty
• a progressive approach to flexible working,
notices, requiring contact details, and seizing
enhanced maternity and paternity leave,
drugs. However, PCSOs do not have powers
and potential for a career break (after two
of arrest and cannot interview, or process,
years’ service)
prisoners. Visit our PCSO page for the full list of
designated powers. • opportunities to join various support
networks, staff associations and sports
As a PCSO you can expect: clubs.

• a starting salary of at least £23,631 (£22,394 From day one, you’ll be supported with great
plus £1,237 unsocial shift allowance) training and brilliant teammates; equipping
you for every eventuality. Your life skills and
• fully-funded professional qualification-
experiences will help towards this role, along
Level 4 Diploma in Community Policing
with diplomacy, and being in touch with the
Practice
real world.
• 25 days per year annual leave, rising to 29
days depending on your length of service Above all, you’ll simply care about the
community and want to do all you can to keep
• a great learning experience that will
it safe.
support future career opportunities

• a competitive benefits package including

pension, flexible benefits, employee

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2. ELIGIBILITY
To apply for the role you will need to meet applications from everyone – whether you’re
our eligibility criteria: These are that you a college-leaver, career-changer or planning
must: your return to work.
• be aged 18 years or older I’m 17 but will be 18 in a couple of months’
• have a full manual driving licence time. Can I apply?
• have a GCSE A*-C (4-9) or Level 2 Unfortunately not. To be eligible to apply, you
Functional Skills qualification in English must be 18 years or over when you submit
and Maths your application. When you’re 18, we will
welcome your application!
• be a British citizen, a citizen of a country
that is a member of the European I’m not a British Citizen, can I still apply?
Economic Area or Switzerland, or a You can as long as you are an EEA national or
Commonwealth citizen or foreign a Swiss national. Commonwealth citizens and
national who is resident in the UK and foreign nationals are required to have leave
free from restrictions to enter or leave to remain in the UK for an
• have been resident in the UK for the past indefinite period and unrestricted permission
three years to work in the UK.
• not have more than six penalty points Can I apply without a driving licence?
within three years of your application date To meet our eligibility criteria, you will need
• not have tattoos which could cause to hold a full UK manual driving licence at
offence the point of application.
• not be registered bankrupt (or have I have motoring offences…
bankruptcy debts that have been We assess motoring offences on an individual
discharged within the past three years) basis. However, if you have more than six
• be able to pass a job-related fitness test penalty points then you will not be eligible to
• be able to pass a medical screening and apply to join Surrey Police as a PCSO.
meet the minimum eyesight standards If I have a disability, can I still apply?
• not be a current or previous member of a Yes. We welcome applications from people
proscribed terrorist organisation or group with disabilities. If you consider yourself to
have a disability, please inform us within
If you have a criminal record, this doesn’t your application of the type of reasonable
mean you won’t be considered. This depends adjustments you might need to assist you
on the nature of your conviction. Please in participating in the recruitment and
declare any current or previous cautions or selection process. We will make these
convictions, including cautions as a juvenile, wherever we can.
on your application form. Is there a height restriction?
No, there is no minimum, or maximum,
height restriction.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I think I’m too old to apply…
There is no upper age limit for our PCSOs so
you are never too old to apply! We encourage

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3. APPLICATION PROCESS

To ensure we recruit the very best, we adopt Can I state where I wish to be posted?
a four-stage recruitment process for our On your application you will be asked to state
PCSOs which takes, on average, six months to which of the Surrey divisions – East, North or
complete. West, would be your preferred location. We try
Stage one: online application form with to take these preferences into consideration
competency based questions. upon posting, however please be aware
that due to demand, and organisational
Stage two: online verbal reasoning test
requirements, you may not be posted to your
Stage three: online force interview preferred location.
Stage four: pre-employment checks including
medical, vetting, bio-metric vetting and a
MEDICAL RELATED
fitness test.
I have a medical condition, is that an issue?
For more details, visit ‘How do I apply’. Every candidate is individually assessed. Those
with pre-existing medical conditions may be
asked to provide additional medical evidence
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS to support their application. The below acts as
a mere guide to answer your initial questions.
APPLICATION RELATED
Asthma: You will be individually assessed.
I have not received an email confirming if Individuals with asthma that is well controlled
my application has been submitted? with inhalers are usually acceptable.
Once your application has been submitted,
Diabetes: Your blood-sugar levels need to
you should receive an email confirming
be well controlled and you need to be able
it has been received. If this has not been
to adapt to the demands of the job such as
received, please check your spam / junk
varying shifts and meal times. You will be
folders before emailing
asked to provide evidence that your diabetes is
resourcing@surrey.pnn.police.uk well controlled.

Epilepsy: It is recommended that you have

What do the online competency based not experienced a seizure for at least 18
questions cover? months (with or without medication) before
The online application asks you a series of you apply and have a full driving license
competency questions which is based upon
Stress, Anxiety or Depression: These roles
the Competency and Values Framework
are front-line and public facing, requiring
(CVF) adopted by all police forces in the UK.
the ability to deal with the public in a wide
You can find out more about the CVF here.
range of situations as well as exposing you to
Please take note of the recommended word potentially upsetting incidents. A high level of
counts. What you provide at this stage is emotional resilience is required to undertake
used to progress or decline applications, this work. It is recommended that you have
therefore we encourage you to provide as been stable and well for at least 1 year before
much information in relation to the question you apply.
as possible (within the recommended word
count).

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3. APPLICATION PROCESS (CONTINUED)

Dyslexia: We are able to support reasonable the better eye and 6/6 or better binocularly. A
adjustments if you have a report confirming field-of-view of at least 120 degrees horizontally
your condition. For police officers this report by 100 degrees vertically is required. Those with
must be carried out as an adult. Support is monocular vision should be able to reach the
available during training and in the workplace. visual field requirements and 6/6 corrected
vision in their eye and be subject to a risk
Severe Allergy: Most allergies are compatible
assessment by the organisation. Corrected
with these roles, but if you have a severe allergy
near static visual acuity must be 6/9 or better
(including a history of collapse or breathing
binocularly. Glasses and contact lenses are both
difficulties) we may require further information
acceptable. Seeing a qualified optician every
to establish your fitness for role.
few years is a good way to ensure your eyes are
Any type of blood clotting disorder which healthy. For Police Constables we ask you to
requires medication such as Warfarin - We may see a qualified optician prior to your medical
require further information to establish your appointment.
fitness for role.

I am colour blind…
What does the medical involve? Mild colour vision deficiencies are not generally
To ensure you are fit for the role we ask you a problem but you might not be able to
to undergo a fitness test and an individual progress into some specialist roles, such as
medical assessment. Your medical assessment roads policing officer or Taser/firearms officer.
will take place with the Surrey Police Unfortunately, if your colour vision deficiency is
Occupational Health and Wellbeing Service monochrome you are not eligible to apply.
under strict confidence. Disabilities will be
assessed taking into account the Equality
What if I have hearing issues?
Act 2010 and recommendations regarding
The hearing standard required is hearing loss of
reasonable adjustments made where
more than a total of 84 dB over the 0.5 – 1.2 KHz
appropriate. If you have a health problem, or
range or more than a total of 123 dB over the 3.4
recently had a lot of time off, we may need to
and 6 KHz range. The routine medical includes
see a copy of any relevant medical records,
a hearing test to determine if this standard is
such as specialist reports, test results or a note
met.
from your doctor.

You will not be able to proceed until we have

What does substance misuse testing entail?
received your GP report and optician test
We will invite you in to attend an appointment
results.
where we will collect a sample of hair –
approximately 50 to 100 strands from the
I wear glasses/contact lenses… crown of the head – to test for the presence
A general level of eyesight is required to of inappropriate substances.
ensure you are able to carry out your role safely
while driving police vehicles, taking accurate
statements and relaying evidence in court.
DVLA guidelines apply together with eyesight
standards from the College of Policing.
Corrected distance visual acuity must be 6/12 in

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3. APPLICATION PROCESS (CONTINUED)

Is there a specific weight / BMI I need to be? • Children/children of your partner (only those
Being overweight affects your overall health aged 10 years and over)
and puts you at increased risk of heart disease
• Any other adult living at your address
and diabetes. It can also affect your joints and
might make it harder for you to achieve the • Financial circumstances
fitness levels required for your role. Equally,
• Social media accounts.
being underweight can mean that you lack
muscle mass to ensure adequate fitness
levels. During your medical appointment your I have a relative who has convictions
BMI will be calculated and used as a guide If your friends or family members have criminal
to assess your health risks and fitness levels. convictions, you must disclose this when asked
A BMI in the healthy to overweight range is on your vetting application. Your application will
desirable, if your BMI is above 30 for PCs and not be automatically rejected and consideration
Specials and above 32 for PCSOs we will also will be given on a case-by-case basis.
assess your body composition and you might
be deferred unless your body fat percentage
Can I still apply if I have a criminal record?
is below 30% for men or 36% for women. Your
Applications will be rejected in all cases where:
best option is to ensure a healthy balanced
diet and regular moderate exercise to ensure • Offences were committed as an adult or
your own personal health and wellbeing as juvenile which resulted in a prison sentence
well as fitness for your role in policing. Check (including custodial, suspended or deferred
your BMI at www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy- sentence and sentences served at a young
weight and assess your diet with the eat well offenders’ institution or community home)
plate guide www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/the-
OR
eatwell-guide.
• The applicant is a registered sex offender
or is subject to a registration requirement
I’m nervous about the fitness test…
in respect of any other conviction.
We understand that some people may feel
nervous when it comes to the fitness test, For all other convictions or cautions, there is
however you don’t need to be a professional a rebuttable presumption that they should
athlete to succeed. Click here for more be rejected. In particular, the following would
information. result in rejection: offences where vulnerable
people were targeted; offences motivated by
hate or discrimination; domestic abuse offences.
VETTING RELATED
Although the rebuttable presumption is that
What does vetting entail? these should lead to rejection, there will be
We will carry out security checks on you cases where this may be disproportionate in
and your: the circumstances. For instance, where the
offence was committed as a juvenile, it was not
• Spouse/partner
serious, and the individual has demonstrated a
• Father/stepfather/mother’s partner commitment to help individuals or communities
in the subsequent years. In these cases, vetting
• Mother/stepmother/father’s partner
acceptance may be justified.
• Brothers/sisters (full/half/step)

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3. APPLICATION PROCESS (CONTINUED)

What is biometric vetting? I have an Independent Voluntary Agreement

We will take a fingerprint and DNA sample to (IVA)…
determine whether an individual has come Applicants with current IVAs will be considered.
to police attention, whether that was under However, you will be required to show that
the identity being used for the application there is an IVA repayment plan in place and
and whether the individual is linked to any that you’ve maintained regular payments over
outstanding crime scenes. a significant number of months.

If you’re appointed, these samples will be

retained on a police database for elimination Can I continue with my other business?
purposes. If you are not appointed, your
You must declare any other employment for
fingerprints, DNA samples and DNA profile
hire or gain or any other business interests that
will be destroyed, along with all records and
you intend to maintain. A decision on whether
copies.
it is considered that your business interests are
compatible with performing the role of PCSO
I’ve been bankrupt… will be made on the basis of the information
You can still apply but only if it is three years you provide during application.
after bankruptcy debts have been discharged.
Do you ask for references?
We may send reference requests to all your
How about County Court Judgments (CCJ)?
previous employers in the past three years.
If the judgment has been discharged then
If you haven’t been employed for three years,
you can be considered however if you have
we may ask for a character reference or an
educational reference.
If you’re appointed, these samples will be
retained on a police database for elimination
purposes. If you are not appointed, your
fingerprints, DNA samples and DNA profile
will be destroyed, along with all records and
copies.

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4. TRAINING AND PROGRESSION

By successfully completing the recruitment Phase two

process, you will join Surrey Police as a PCSO Operational learning – a further four
weeks focusing on skills development
through our new 12-month apprenticeship and assessments, based at Surrey Police
headquarters.
programme. This will give you the best possible
Tutoring – up to 10 weeks in the community
training and, upon successful completion, you alongside your tutor, after which
will achieve a Level 4 Diploma in Community Independent Patrol status (IP) will be
awarded.
Policing Practice – equivalent to a Higher
Upon achieving IP, using the skills and
National Certificate (HNC), foundation degree or knowledge you’ve gained through your
training you will continue to build up your
the first year of an undergraduate degree. portfolio of evidence required to complete
the qualification and apprenticeship. The
You will be employed as a PCSO from day final assessment involves a professional
one, gaining valuable experience of the role discussion around your work-based activities
alongside studying towards your diploma. You as well as a presentation relating to a
will also be paid a salary while studying and problem-solving activity in the community.
will not be charged any tuition fees.
While there is no formal route currently
The training remains focused on practical from PCSO to police officer, the training and
policing, with the majority of learning taking experience you will gain from being a PCSO
place on the job and out in the public will help you if you want to move into this
alongside experienced colleagues. To ensure role. We are happy to arrange shadowing
you have the tools and knowledge to excel opportunities for you if this is your desired
as a modern-day PCSO it will cover subjects career path.
including digital policing, problem-solving,
safeguarding and identifying vulnerability and
risk.

The course consists of:

Phase one
• Operational learning – eight weeks, full-
time based at Surrey Police headquarters
in Guildford helping you gain skills in
areas such as report writing, dealing with
“I wanted to become a PCSO
evidence, managing a crime scene and to help people, and victims of
stop and search.
crime .”
• Tutoring – two weeks out in the
community, supported by a tutor.
Debbie, PCSO
• One week compulsory annual leave.

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4. TRAINING AND PROGRESSION (CONTINUED)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why are you introducing apprenticeships for Can I apply for other jobs in the organisation
PCSOs? while training?
Apprenticeships are a great way to gain hands- The role of PCSO is tenured for 24 months
on experience while studying towards an the first 12 months of this will form your
industry recognised qualification and earning a probationary period. This means you will not
salary. We’ve been offering apprenticeships for a be able to start a new position within the Force
number of years and are excited to extend this to during this time. You may, however, be able
a broader range of roles and, specifically, to the to apply for a role with longer recruitment
role of a PCSO. timeframes i.e. police officer. We would
encourage you to speak with your line manager
Do I need to pay for the diploma? if you wish to change roles.
No. We will pay for your diploma and instead you
will earn while you learn. Why is the role tenured for 24 months?
A number of roles within the Force are tenured
Will I be expected to go to college? positions. This recognises the investment we
No. All training will be delivered locally by make in terms of training and developing
a combination of police staff trainers and people in these areas.
experienced tutors

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5. CONCERNED ABOUT APPLYING?
You’d like to apply but something’s holding We test endurance through a fitness shuttle
commonly known as the ‘Bleep Test’. A good
you back… indicator of the fitness level needed for this
test is to be able to run at a good pace for
• Application process
around four minutes over a distance of about
We appreciate that the application process is
700 metres. The required pass level is 5.4
lengthy. However, it’s this rigorous approach
which means completion of five levels and
which ensures we select people who will
four shuttles. The College of Policing offers
make great police PCSOs.
additional guidance here.
• Diversity
If you fail the test you will be given the
We are committed to promoting equality
opportunity to re-take it twice more as part of
and respect for diversity in the way we serve
the recruitment process. Should you fail both
Surrey in delivering policing and also as an
of these, your application will be rejected.
employer. We welcome applications from
everyone in the community; particularly • Lacking experience
people from black, asian and minority ethnic Our people come from all walks of life. You
(BAME) and white other backgrounds. We don’t need any specific experience, all we’re
also encourage applications from women, looking for are the skills, behaviours and
the LGBT+ community, and people with desire which will ensure you can protect our
disabilities. communities. If you believe you can make a
difference, then we want to hear from you.
• Fitness
While we don’t expect you to be a professional • Perceptions
athlete, we do require a reasonable level of Policing faces both positive and negative
fitness to become a PCSO. You will need perceptions. As a force, we subscribe to the
to complete the fitness test as part of your highest ethics and request our people to
application, again as part of your initial do the same. The majority of our officers
training and on an annual basis once as an and staff demonstrate the highest levels of
officer. professionalism, integrity and standards.
By joining us, we will expect you to also
demonstrate these values and help us
improve confidence in policing generally.

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5. CONCERNED ABOUT APPLYING? (CONTINUED)

• Potential danger covered at all times. Tattoos that are considered

With policing, you cannot predict what you to be offensive, discriminatory, contrary to the
will respond to and sometimes this does Code of Ethics, rude, lewd, racist, sexist, sectarian,
mean putting people into challenging homophobic, violent or intimidating should not be
situations. However, through our in-depth acceptable.
training and ongoing support you will be well
prepared to deal with whatever you are faced • Working hours
with. You’re also not alone – we work together. The normal working week is 36 hours. You will work
Monday to Sunday between the hours of 7:00am
• Tattoos and 22:00pm on a rotating shift pattern which
PCSOs may have tattoos as long as they do includes evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
not breach Home Office or College of Policing
All shifts are available in advance meaning you will
guidance. If you have visible tattoos on your
always know when you will be working and we
head, face, neck, hands or arms then you
always try to accommodate staff requests, as long
will need to make a declaration within the
as they fit in with operational demands.
eligibility section of the application form and
attach two digital pictures of each tattoo (one We also recognise the benefits of flexible working
distance photograph clearly showing where and are committed to equality of opportunity
on the body the tattoo is located and a second and the promotion of work-life balance. We will
close up photograph). support opportunities for flexible working within
the organisation where practical and suitable
These will be viewed individually and your to promote a work-life balance and enable the
application will be accepted or rejected recruitment and retention of a workforce which
based on their content and coverage. You is representative of the diverse communities we
may have your application accepted but serve.
with the condition that the tattoo must be

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6. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS

If you have any other questions, or would like to know

more about the role or Surrey Police please contact
the recruitment team on
resourcing@surrey.pnn.police.uk
who will be happy to arrange a conversation with you.

If your application has been successfully submitted,

you will receive an email confirming it has been
received. If you do not receive a notification, please
check your spam/junk folder before emailing
the recruitment team, providing them with your
full name, telephone number and the date you
submitted your application.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO
RECEIVING YOUR APPLICATION.

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