Police Community Support Officers

PCSO principles of Deployment

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There are fundamental principles that underpin the deployment of PCSOs.

There is no expectation that PCSOs will engage in activities assessed as 'high risk.' A high-risk incident is one where there is a real (i.e. more than trivial) risk of physical confrontation

  • PCSOs must be employed in uniform and be in possession of their designation card. They do not have any powers under the Police Reform Act 2002 when not in uniform.
  • A reasonable decision made by a PCSO to withdraw, observe and report is a valid tactical option and will be supported by managers and colleagues.
  • There is no positive duty for PCSOs to intervene; they are police staff and not police officers.
  • The actions of PCSOs will support the rights of individuals (proportionate, legal, accountable and necessary).

At any given incident, having considered the above principles, PCSOs are in a position to choose the most appropriate tactical options. These will include:

  • Call for police intervention.
  • Withdraw and wait.
  • Observe and report.
  • Exercise a power or intervene in a situation using conflict resolution skills, if it is safe to do so.

PCSO