Police Community Support Officers

Our PCSOs are responsible for liaison and the all-important trust between the community and our force. This is an ideal career if you're looking to develop your skills. Career changers often apply too.

Choosing to become a PCSO is a recognised entry route into the police. This way, you'll achieve a fully-funded professional qualification - the Level 4 Diploma in Community Policing Practice - within your 15-month Police Community Support Officer Apprenticeship. This means 12 months of practical training and three months of end point assessment with a least 20% of your working hours spent completing off-the-job learning.

Even though we're one of many regional forces, there's only one Sussex Police. Join us, and you'll be a PCSO who's seen out on regular foot patrols engaging with the public, collecting intelligence and deterring crime. You'll impact more lives than just your own in this role, as any shift could include reassuring the public after anti-social behaviour, carrying out enquiries, protecting crime scenes until Officers arrive, supporting public gatherings and more.

You'll receive a starting salary of £33,893.16 (which includes an unsocial shift allowance of £6146.16 per year, pro rata) and we'll support you to achieve your career aspirations.

Keep reading below to find out if this role is right for you.

If you're a keen listener, confident, calm, compassionate and able to defuse difficult situations where there's a risk of conflict, you're who we're looking for to help keep Sussex safe. Being a PCSO is an exciting and rewarding career, and you'll be the change you want to see out in the community thanks to your ability to build positive relationships with the public. As the first point of contact, you'll rely on your problem-solving skills to deal with anti-social behaviour, provide reassurance and help resolve challenges so we can identify and protect the most vulnerable and prevent harm.

It's not always easy to think through challenges and find solutions, but despite not having powers of arrest or the ability to interview or process prisoners, you'll still work closely with Officers and be able to issue fixed penalty notices, take statements and seize drugs. You can find out more about PCSO powers here. The pace is fast and no two shifts are ever the same, but we'll support you every step of the way.