Job profile

A Police Community Support Officer has many strengths to perform this challenging role. Here you’ll find a detailed Job Profile, Person Specification and Competencies you’ll need to show ability in.

Job Title: Police Community Support Officer

Job Purpose: To work in partnership with the Area Community Action Teams to provide a high profile visible presence in and around the residential, retail and business areas of an Area in order to reassure the Community and allay the fear of crime

You will:

  • Deal constantly with members of the public
  • Build links with employers and business and community leaders
  • Deal with nuisance offences such as street drinking or begging
  • Be given some limited powers suited to your role.

You will not:

  • Have powers of arrest
  • Be able to interview or deal with prisoners
  • Investigate serious crime
  • Carry out the more complex and high-risk tasks that Police Officers perform.

The type of things PCSOs do:

  • Go on highly visible, uniformed foot patrols
  • Support Community Beat Officers and Community Action Teams in solving local problems
  • Make house visits to gather intelligence and offer public reassurance after minor crimes or anti-social behaviour
  • Get involved with key people in the community, such as religious and business leaders
  • Work with Community Watch, Neighbourhood Watch, Business Watch, Pub Watch, Farm Watch and Horse Watch schemes
  • Protect crime scenes until police officers arrive
  • Collect CCTV evidence
  • Provide low-level crime prevention and personal safety advice
  • Carry out low-level missing person enquiries
  • Act as professional witnesses, attending court when needed
  • Support crime prevention
  • Engage with youths
  • Interact with schools
  • Support the Mobile Police Station; and Support Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships.

Job Description

Scope

  • To liaise with and promote community Neighbourhood Watch initiatives to raise awareness of the scheme and crime prevention
  • To identify and act as a point of contact for the public in issues such as anti-social behaviour, alcohol problems, litter problems, graffiti and addressing the problem directly where possible, and or/referral to the appropriate agency
  • Encourage the safe and proper use of outdoor recreational areas and public open spaces to promote the greater and safer use of such areas
  • Must be prepared to work in an outdoor environment all year round and in all weathers
  • Must be flexible in terms of duties and working hours (evening and weekend working is expected within a shift pattern)
  • Be sensitive to and aware of minority groups within a community
  • Must be prepared to wear an appropriate Cheshire Constabulary uniform
  • Must be able to patrol on foot up to several hours a day if necessary
  • Must be able to use a radio when required
  • Must possess a full driving licence
  • Must have satisfactory attendance record
  • Must be able to promote equality and diversity
  • Notwithstanding the details in this job profile, in accordance with the Authority’s Flexibility Policy, the job holder will undertake such work as may be determined by the Chief Constable from time to time, or up to a level consistent with the principal responsibilities of the job.

Experience and qualifications

  • Experience in dealing with members of the public in a formal capacity.

Core Responsibilities

Community Safety

  • Adopt a problem solving approach to community issues.
    Work with the community partners and other agencies to solve community problems in accordance with the relevant legislation policy procedures and partnership agreements.
  • Conduct Patrol.
    Conduct Patrol responding to calls and requests for assistance, countering criminal activity and public disorder and minimising risks to safety.
  • Respond to road related incidents, hazards, offences and collisions.
    Contribute to maintaining road safety by identifying and responding to hazards regulating traffic, dealing with traffic offences and attending collision scenes in accordance with legislation and organisational policy.

Intelligence

  • Use intelligence to support policing objectives.
    Use intelligence to support the achievement of community safety and crime reduction objectives. Ensure that intelligence is used ethically and in accordance with the relevant legislation, policy, protocols, codes and practice.

Investigation

  • Conduct initial investigation.
    Conduct the initial investigation and scene preservation in accordance with the relevant investigation policies and legal requirements, demonstrating support for victims and witnesses and recognising any possible impact on the community.
  • Provide care for victims and witnesses.
    Ensure that the necessary care for victims and witnesses is provided in an ethical and empathic manner and in accordance with the legislation, policy and procedure.

Custody and Prosecution

  • Present evidence in court and at other hearings.
    Attend court and give evidence in accordance with legislation.

Personal Responsibility

  • Complete administration procedures.
    Ensure that all matters relating to the process of information are carried out in a prompt, efficient manner and in accordance with legislation, policy and procedure.
  • Comply with Health and Safety legislation.
    Ensure that you show a duty of care and take appropriate action to comply with Health and Safety requirements at all times.
  • Maintain standards of professional practice.
    Ensure your behaviour complies with organisational values and organise your work effectively to meet the demands of your role. Identify, implement and monitor development activities to enhance your own performance.
  • Make the best use of technology.
    Make best use of technology in support of your role, ensuring correct operation and compliance with organisational and legal requirements.
  • Promote equality, diversity and Human Rights in working practices.
    Promote equality, diversity and Human Rights in working practices by developing and maintaining positive working relationships, ensuring that colleagues are treated fairly and contributing to developing equality of opportunity in working practices.
  • Provide an organisation response recognising the needs of all communities.
    Build and maintain community relations by providing a service that is responsive to the needs of all communities and by ensuring that those affected by crime receive a fair and anti-discriminatory service.

Managing the Organisation

  • Conduct quality assurance checks.
    Undertake activities to ensure organisational or quality assurance requirements.
  • Establish and agree terms of reference.
    Identify and agree the requirements of a given task or project and establish criteria for evaluation.
  • Gather information to support action.
    Gather information from a range of sources in order to support action. Ensure the information is obtained ethically and in accordance with relevant legislation and policy.
  • Participate in meetings.
    Prepare for and actively contribute within meetings in a clear, concise and relevant manner, ensuring decisions and actions are communicated to appropriate personnel.

Behaviour Area

Working with Others

  • Community and customer focus.
    Sees things from the customer’s point of view and encourages others to do the same. Builds a good understanding and relationship with the community that is served.
  • Effective communication.
    Communicates all needs, instructions and decisions clearly. Adapts the style of communication to meet the needs of the audience. Checks for understanding.
  • Respect for race and diversity.
    Understands other people’s views and takes them into account. Is tactful and diplomatic when dealing with people, treating them with dignity and respect at all times. Understands and is sensitive to social, cultural and racial differences.
  • Teamworking.
    Works effectively as a team member and helps build relationships within it. Actively helps and supports others to achieve team goals.

Achieving Results

  • Personal responsibility.
    Takes personal responsibility for own actions and for sorting out issues and problems that arise. Is focused on achieving results to required standards and developing skills and knowledge.
  • Problem solving.
    Gathers enough relevant information to understand specific issues and events. Uses information to identify problems and draw logical conclusions. Makes good decisions.
  • Resilience.
    Shows reliability and resilience in difficult circumstances. Remains calm and confident and responds logically and decisively in difficult situations.