Protect every journey
PCSOs
Starting salary up to £30,504.28 for London (Depending on experience) this includes London Allowance and up to 20% shift allowance
Starting salary up to £27,804.18 outside of London (Depending on experience) this includes up to a 20% shift allowance
Some shift patterns may attract different allowance rates.
28 days holiday
About the role
As a PCSO, you’ll be at the heart of the community, protecting every journey, preventing trouble and making our communities safer and stronger.
As a reassuring presence at stations, you’ll assist passengers and work closely with Police Officers and railway staff. From dealing with security threats to undertaking minor crime investigations, no two days are ever the same as a PCSO. You’ll have to deal with some of the most challenging people in some of the most difficult situations. But your ability to build relationships will instantly inspire confidence.
To rise to all of these challenges takes a special kind of person. You’ll need to be resilient with a real flair for customer service. You’ll have the ability to engage with the community and forge strong links with our partner organisations.
Communicative, adaptable, and able to think on your feet, you’ll be known for your ability to resolve a diverse range of scenarios. Above all, you won’t see this as a job, but as a vocation – and you’ll be passionate about having the chance to make a difference.
Please note that PCSO roles are only available in England and Wales.
Benefits
We’re passionate about recognising and rewarding those who help us protect every journey. It’s you who makes the difference, so our benefits are designed with you in mind. Take a look at what’s on offer:
Pension
We offer a generous pension to our employees. For further information, please contact our Pensions Manager at Pension-Queries@btp.police.uk
Blue Light card
A Blue Light Card costs £4.99 for two-years and gives you access to a range of discounts, both online and on the high street
Annual leave
PCSOs are entitled to 28 days annual leave for less than two years’ service, rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service.
Maternity, paternity and adoption leave
26 weeks full pay maternity and adoption leave after a qualifying period. Paid paternity leave.
Transport Benevolent Fund
A charity to support employees in the public transport industry for a small monthly payment.
Cycle to work scheme
You’ll have the opportunity to hire a bicycle from us to cycle to work and you won’t pay national insurance or tax contributions on what you spend up to £1,000.
Travel on duty
All Police Officers and Special Constables are entitled to free travel on all National Rail services when on duty, whether or not they are in uniform. Entitlement to travel is granted by the warrant card which must be shown on request, even if wearing BTP uniform.
Oyster cards
Issued to PCSOs for duty and travel to and from work.
Not valid on National Rail Services (TfL services only)
London Ferry Bus Service (Clipper services) and Emirates excluded.
Season ticket
PCSOs may apply for a residential pass or privilege season ticket for rail travel between their home and principal work location.
Health and wellbeing benefits
Employee assistance
BTP’s employee assistance programme is a free, confidential service which supports our employees in resolving personal problems and improving their overall wellbeing.
Wellbeing hub
Internal knowledge hub containing news, information and resources on a variety of topics, wellbeing events and details of all our support services.
Private medical healthcare
Private health insurance is available to Superintendents and Police staff in grades C003 and C004 and above and their families.
Eye care provision
Computer users are entitled to eye care examinations and glasses paid for by BTP.
CSSC Sports and Leisure
A not-for-profit organisation positively promoting health and wellbeing in the workplace.
Insurance
Preferential rates from Police Mutual available.
Armed Forces Covenant
We are silver accredited under the Armed Forces Covenant and we support Territorial forces reservists, including paid time off to participate in training.
Training
PSCO’s will complete 8 weeks initial training which will aim to give you all of the knowledge and skills required to begin your career as PCSO in London.
Your initial training will be followed by four weeks on area working shifts with a tutor PCSO. As with our Police Officer training programmes, our training is based on the principals of knowledge, understanding, skills, attitude and behaviours.
During the course you will:
- Be continually assessed through your behaviours and ethical practice
- Study a broad curriculum to equip you with the required knowledge and skills
- Complete assessments on both theoretical knowledge and practical skills
- Undertake realistic scenario exercises in a simulated operational environment
- Need to pass all mandatory training, such as Personal Safety Training, Track Safety and First Aid covered within the course
- Learn how to use our technology and systems to allow you to fulfil the full remit of your role
- Participate in regular uniform parades and formal inspections by senior officers.
Annual leave can’t be permitted during this time or the tutor period.
The Application Process
Your application will initially be screened to ensure that you meet the minimum eligibility requirements. Once this has been satisfied, the information you have provided in the application form will be assessed.
A high standard of written communication skills are a requirement to working with us. If your application form contains an unreasonable number of spelling or grammatical errors, then your application will be unsuccessful.
We’re looking for evidence of the qualities you have to enable you to carry out your role. We’ll assess your application form answers against the Competency and values framework (CVF) If your application is successful, you’ll be invited to take online tests covering maths, word usage and verbal reasoning.
More information on the CVF can be found here.
Once you have successfully completed the online tests, you’ll be invited to attend an assessment centre. The day comprises of:
- A one-hour competency-based interview and presentation
- A Job-Related Fitness Test (JRFT) – a beep test to level 5.4
- Uniform measurements
You’ll also have samples taken (mouth swab and fingerprints) for the purpose of biometric vetting.
Once you have been given a conditional offer, you will go through the full vetting process. This will include employment reference checks as well as our own baseline vetting. You’ll receive your offer letter or contract once these security checks have been successfully completed.
You’ll also be asked to attend a comprehensive medical assessment, which will be conducted by a doctor or registered nurse. The medical assessment is thorough and includes checks of your eyesight, hearing, blood pressure and body mass This will help us to determine whether or not you have the level of health that is required for the role. You will also be required to pass a drugs and alcohol test.
We understand that it's only natural to want to prepare for the recruitment process to be an officer with us. To support you through both your application and subsequent assessment centre, we occasionally hold application and assessment centre workshops.
Eligibility
Before you make the decision to apply, you’ll need to make sure that you meet our eligibility criteria.
It’s important that our employees provide the best possible service with the full confidence of the public they serve. That’s why every potential employee goes through a thorough vetting check as part of the application process.
To join us, you must have the permanent right to live and work in the UK without any restrictions.
As a minimum, all applicants must have been resident in the UK for the last 3 years. This is required to ensure we can conduct adequate vetting checks and this applies equally to all applicants, regardless of nationality.
You must be a minimum of 18 years old to start employment with us. If you are applying to become a Police Officer the maximum age you can be is 57.5 years.
You will not be eligible to apply if you have ever received a prison sentence.
All other cautions, convictions and involvement with the police must be declared during the vetting process. This will not necessarily result in your application being withdrawn, as all applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
As part of your checks we will verify your financial position. Employees hold a privileged position and have access to a range of sensitive and valuable information. Potentially, this means employees are a heightened risk of being vulnerable to corruption. This means, applicants must to be free from the pressure of undischarged debts or liabilities and to be able to manage loans and debts sensibly.
Tattoos are not acceptable if:
- They are on your face
- Above the collar line on the front or side of your neck,
- Are large on the back of your neck and cannot be easily covered
- They could be considered in any way offensive, regardless of their location.
Visible tattoos are permissible on other areas of the body including hands, arms, legs, feet and on the back of the neck (providing the tattoo is discreet and behind the ear lobe).
Discreet tattoos on the ear are also considered acceptable. Consideration will be given to tattoos on the face that were necessary following medical procedures or for cosmetic procedures e.g. eyebrows.
You are encouraged to contact the recruitment team if you are at all unsure about your tattoos and we will advise you wherever possible.
You can do this by emailing us.
Contact us
You have to be able to conduct your role and responsibilities impartially and effectively. This means if you are currently, or have even been, associated with any group, society or individuals that could reasonably represent a conflict of interest, then you will not be eligible to apply.
Due to the timescales of our recruitment process, applications from service personnel will only be accepted if you have 12 months or less to serve before being discharged. You will need to attach with your application confirmation of your projected date of discharge. (e.g. a letter from your Commanding officer).
Each role will specify what qualifications are a requirement for appointment. For training and development purposes you may be required to produce examination certificates. If you are still in, or have recently left full-time education, we may also ask for a reference from the relevant institution.
You will need to declare any other employment or business interest you have and intend to maintain so that this can be reviewed to ensure no conflict of interest with the police.
You will not normally be eligible for appointment as a Police Officer or PCSO if you hold any office or employment for hire or gain, or if you carry on any business in addition to being a Police Officer or PCSO.
It is important you know that your spouse or any relative living with you also can’t hold or have financial interest in any licence or permit relating to alcohol licensing, refreshment houses or betting and gaming or the regulation of places of entertainment in the Force area.
Our employees may encounter situations that can be stressful, traumatic and at times, physically confrontational. Our people can work long hours and cover rotating shifts, so the role can be physically and mentally demanding. Therefore, it is important our employees are in good health to be able to undertake their duties safely.
To ensure we can support our employees’ wellbeing, we’ll ask you to provide relevant details of your health and medical history in accordance with any questions we have to ask during the application process.
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