Am I eligible?

Have you got what it takes to become a PCSO?

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and ethnic groups and are committed to creating a police service that is representative of the communities it serves.

Our applicants are not limited to any particulary age group - in fact, we encourage those who are looking for a change of career.

There are some basic guidelines for applicants:

• you must be aged 18 or over; 
• there are no minimum or maximum height requirements;
• there are no formal educational requirements;
• only applications from British citizens, EC/EEA nationals, Commonwealth citizens, or foreign nationals with indefinite leave to remain in the UK will be accepted;
• you will require at least three years' residency in the UK;
• you will need to complete a medical history questionnaire and undergo an eyesight test satisfactorily before appointment;
• a number of offences will mean a definite or likely rejection of your application, including anyone who has received a formal caution in the last five years, committed a violent crime or public order offence;
• you must be physically and mentally able to undertake police duties;
• some tattoos (whether visible or not) and facial piercing may be unacceptable;
• have experience of working with Microsoft Office or equivalent.
• Hold a full UK manual driving license

Do you qualify

Not everybody is cut out to be a police community support officer (PCSO). Although PCSOs come from a wide variety of backgrounds, all share certain attributes.

They must, for example:

• be confident, level-headed and mature;
• have experience and confidence in dealing with difficult people and complex situations;
• be sensitive, but also thick-skinned;
• demonstrate good communication skills;
• work well as part of a team;
• have the stamina for long stretches on foot patrol.