Police Community Support Officer, Sam

Can you tell us about your role?

The role of a PCSO is to be that visible, uniformed presence within the community. We value being consistent, approachable Officers within our communities, knowing our patch and the people within it. Tackling those quality of life issues that affect people in various ways, such anti-social behaviour, supporting victims of crime, and building the trust necessary for effective policing.

Unlike our Police Constable colleagues, who are primarily reactive, we pride ourselves on being proactive and engaging with members of the community before they cross the line. I work closely with the young people within my community and have enjoyed being the reason that some of them have managed to change their trajectory for the better, to make more informed decisions about where their futures are headed. PCSOs will often be the go to link between various partner agencies and the rest of the force as we have spent time fostering those close relationships that allow for collaborative working and problem solving.

Does life as an Officer in a rural area differ from an officer working in a busy city?

There will always be differences between areas, but that can be more relevant when talking about policing rural communities. The area is far more vast and the crime types are also more varied such as hare coursing, non-dwelling burglaries and plant/machinery thefts. It takes a lot longer to get around your patch when you are a rural Officer and you will need to plan accordingly. The attitude of those community members in the rural areas will also differ and you may need to work harder to gain the trust of those who you may be dealing with.

Are there any particular skills you require to do the role?

I would say that having the ‘gift of the gab’ is definitely a useful skill to have as being able to talk to people is 80% of the job and if you can communicate effectively you are already ahead of the game. Other than that, being open minded, empathetic and professionally curious are all skills we use on a daily basis. Along with being proficient with technology i.e. being able to use a computer to write reports and a mobile phone, as we don’t carry pocket notebooks anymore.

What is the best part of your job?

It is an incredibly rewarding job with loads of job satisfaction. You become the name and face within your community where everyone knows you and you get to know all your persons of interest. The role offers variety, so no day is ever the same. One minute you could be visiting a vulnerable member of the community to discuss how they became the victim of a fraud scam the next you could be assisting colleagues to look for a high risk missing person. Knowing that you have made a difference in someone’s life or in your community is one of my favourite things about the job. There have often been times where intel I have provided has been paramount in an investigation or because of an interaction I have had with a person they have felt safer in the community and more confident with the police as a whole.

What would a standard day look like for you?

I always start my shifts the same way, I am a bit of a creature of habit in that way. I like to check, what we call, the overnights which are the reports that have come in from the previous day/night since we were last on duty. I then use these to base my day around any other tasks or community engagements that I have scheduled. For instance, if I know I have to do some reassurance visits for someone who has recently been scammed out of some money and they are based in a particular area. I will check to see if there have been any reports of antisocial behaviour or suspicious incidents reported that could be along the way and base my route on this. This way I am actively patrolling along the areas that people are reporting, all whilst conducting my visit. Thus, creating that all important visible police presence and reassurance to the public. 

What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a Police Community Support Officer?

Do it! I changed careers in my mid 30’s and it is honestly the best decision I have ever made. No days are ever the same and if you want a fulfilling career where you feel you can really make a difference in people’s lives then this is role for you.

What do you do to unwind when not at work?

I am a single parent and have a toddler so a lot of my time is spent playing in parks or taking him to various activities. Besides that I enjoy hiking and spend a lot of my time in forests, among nature or on long walks with the little guy.

For our current vacancies visit our vacancy page All Hampshire Constabulary Jobs, or if you have any questions, please contact police.recruitment@hampshire.police.uk and we would be happy to help. Alternatively, please call us on 023 8045 1611.