Interest in PCSO roles spikes

Sometimes, analysing data doesn’t give you the results you expect but instead throws something else up entirely. This was the case when we reviewed our PCSO data over the last 4 and a half years, to January 2022.

Before we dove down into the figures, we had a sense that the number of adverts had increased, especially given the Government’s stated aim to recruit 400 PCSOs announced in April 2025.

What we actually discovered is that the number of adverts has remained pretty static over the last few years, with 127 roles advertised in 2022, 87 in 2023. 80 in 2024, 101 in 2025, and so far 37 in 2026 which suggests another year with less than 100 roles.
The caveat here is that it is possible that the number of vacancies offered per advert has changed – allowing forces to increase the number of candidates that are employed, something that it is difficult for us to quantify.

However, we can say there has been an uptick in the interest in PCSO roles from potential candidates. Our data shows that in 2022, PCSO adverts received an average of 129 clicks. This increased to over 200 clicks per advert from 2023 to 2025, and so far in 2026, we have seen another significant jump to 341 clicks per advert in 2026.

As with most fluctuations, there are likely to be multiple reasons for this including a changing job market and higher unemployment resulting in more people chasing fewer jobs, the role being seen as a route to becoming a police officer as well as the Government’s campaign.

Whatever the drivers are, these figures are a welcome sight as it means forces will be able to recruit PCSOs more easily than they have done previously, which we know from conversations with forces has been a challenge in certain regions.

Richard Place, Co-owner All Police Jobs

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