Police seeking more PCSOs

Nottinghamshire Police has reopened applications for Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).

From today, Friday 25th October, members of the public will be able to apply for a role and join more than 300 PCSOs already working with Neighbourhood Policing Teams to make the streets of Nottinghamshire safer and to inspire confidence in our communities.

PCSO duties include working as part of a neighbourhood policing team, supporting police officers and community action teams in solving local problems, helping to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour, dealing with minor offences.

PCSO Lauren Hughes, 23, has worked in the Clifton beat team for the past seven months.

As a former Nottingham Trent University student she wanted a job that would complement her degree in forensic biology.

She said: “I started my degree with the idea of working with the police but I wasn’t quite sure what. I couldn’t believe my luck when recruitment opened just at the right time in terms of my course.

“What appealed to me was the variety of the job. I like the idea of working shifts, getting away from working 9am-5pm and never knowing what you were going to be doing from one day to the next.

“There is no typical day really… we might go out on patrol, visit victims of crime, conduct house to house enquiries, go into schools and work with young people or assist with a warrant. One of my colleagues runs a football project so the job is really varied. I like that you feel part of the community and there are lots of days when I go home feeling I’ve really helped someone.

“I look forward to going to work and the camaraderie between my colleagues makes it feel like one big family. If anyone is thinking about applying and they meet the criteria I’d encourage them to do it – I’ve never regretted it.”

The decision to open recruitment was taken by Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping who is looking to increase numbers of police officers, PCSOs and police staff over the next four years.