Police Community Support Officer

Job description

Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)

Make a difference where it matters most.

Join British Transport Police as a Police Community Support Officer and play a vital role in protecting passengers, supporting communities and keeping the railway safe.

Location: B Division, including locations across London

Salary: £29,483.96 per year

London Allowance: £4,775 per year

Shift Allowance: Up to 20%, with a minimum of 15% after training

Annual Leave: 28 days, rising to 30 days with service

Why become a BTP PCSO

Police Community Support Officers are an integral part of British Transport Police.

As a PCSO, you will provide a visible and reassuring presence across the railway network. You will engage with passengers, support railway staff, respond to local concerns and build trusted relationships with the communities we serve.

Chief Superintendent David Rams explains: “Our PCSOs are an integral part of British Transport Police. They carry out vital work across the railway network to keep passengers and staff safe, delivering an exceptional service to our communities across England and Wales.”

The Difference You Will Make

As a BTP PCSO, you will help prevent crime, reduce disruption, support vulnerable people and build public trust and confidence across the railway network.

No two days will be the same. You will:

• Conduct visible patrols at stations and across the rail network.
• Support victims and provide reassurance to passengers, railway staff and the public.
• Assist with minor investigations and intelligence gathering.
• Help manage security threats and operational incidents.
• Build strong relationships with communities and partner organisations.
• Work alongside Police Officers and other policing colleagues.
• Help identify and respond to local concerns affecting the railway.

An Enhanced Operational Role

Unlike PCSOs in many Home Office police forces, BTP PCSOs are trained and equipped with handcuffs. This reflects the distinctive operational environment in which our PCSOs work and the important contribution they make to keeping the railway safe.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for people who:

• Are resilient and able to remain calm under pressure.
• Can communicate confidently with people from different backgrounds.
• Demonstrate excellent customer service skills.
• Have strong interpersonal and relationship-building abilities.
• Are committed to supporting communities and building trust.
• Can use good judgement when responding to challenging situations.
• Work effectively as part of a team.
• Share our commitment to providing an excellent service to the public.

You do not need previous policing experience to apply. We are interested in your values, motivation, transferable skills and potential to succeed in the role.

What You Will Receive

In return for the important work you undertake, you will receive:

• A salary of £29,483.96 per year.
• A London allowance of £4,775 per year.
• A shift allowance of up to 20%, with a minimum of 15% after training.
• 28 days’ annual leave, rising to 30 days with service.
• Travel benefits.
• Ongoing learning and professional development.
• Access to in-house talent and development teams.
• Career development opportunities across British Transport Police.
• A defined contribution pension scheme administered by Royal London.

Develop Your Career with BTP

A career as a Police Community Support Officer is rewarding and important in its own right.

PCSOs play a vital role in neighbourhood policing, safeguarding vulnerable people, solving problems within communities and building public trust and confidence across the railway network.

British Transport Police is committed to supporting your long-term development. You will have opportunities to broaden your knowledge, strengthen your operational skills and explore career development opportunities across the organisation.

If you later decide to pursue a career as a Police Constable, successful completion of your PCSO probationary period will also satisfy the work experience requirement for the Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP).

This is one of several possible development opportunities available to you and does not diminish the importance or professional standing of the PCSO role.

Want To Apply

Applying is straightforward, with all applications completed online. Click apply now and you will be redirected to our careers page to complete your application.

As part of the process, you will complete a Situational Judgement Test (SJT). If unsuccessful, you can reapply in three months.

We encourage you to attend a Recruitment Q&A session before applying to better understand the role.

This is an ongoing campaign. Successful applicants will be placed in a 12-month candidate pool and considered for vacancies as they arise.

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