Police Community Support Officers June 2026

The beating heart of the local community

If you are a people person, who wants to make a real difference to the local community, then you are in the right place.

Our Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) perform a really important role in the police service. Some of the key roles and responsibilities of a PCSO include:

• Communication and negotiation – The role of a PCSO is different to that of a police officer. Your greatest skill is communication and negotiation. You will be key in the community dealing with anti-social behaviour and minor crime, but by being at the forefront of the community, you will encounter varied experiences every day.
• Designated powers – The of a PCSO have several powers and abilities that may be exercised in role. Such as, power to, issue fixed penalty notices for littering, breach of dog control order, seize vehicle used to cause alarm and cycling on a footpath and so many more.
• Building relationships and community engagement – The role is crucial to organising events, building relationships with the public and partner agencies, and dealing with the issues at a very local level in the community.
• Exceptional training – you will receive exceptional training to equip you to deal with suitable incidents in your day-to-day role. You may be called upon to be a credible witness, submit witness statements, conduct minor crime enquiries, and follow up with victims of crime.

This role attracts a shift allowance of 25.49% after training which will bring the salary to £31,273

Recruitment Process

1. National application form
2. National sift
3. Force interview and presentation
4. Pre-employment checks including vetting, medical, substance misuse, biometric vetting and references
5. Uniform fitting

The dates below set out the time frame for this recruitment process and are subject to change. 

Recruitment Open: 04/06/2025

Recruitment Close: 25/01/2026

National Sift: from 26/01/2026

In house Interview: from 16/02/2026

Drugs, Biometric: TBC

Uniform Fitting: TBC

Cohort Start Date: 15/06/2026

Annual leave will not be approved during the initial weeks of training and protected learning dates. Please email Recruitment@northants.pnn.police.uk to confirm dates before booking any holiday.

Fitness test for PCSO's is not mandatory however, they need to be able to work under pressure and part of a team therefore, we would encourage them to take part as it is seen as a team building exercise. Please refer to this YouTube video https://youtu.be/H4gpR92M9h4 to understand what the requirements are and how to prepare. 

Subject to successfully passing the recruitment process, you will be appointed to the role. Please note that successful applicants will undertake seven weeks initial training before being posted onto their dedicated area. Regrettably during this period, no annual leave can be taken.

Helping you through the recruitment process

We know that working for the police can be both exciting and daunting, so we want to help you through the recruitment process as much as possible.

If you have any questions, please contact the recruitment team by emailing recruitment@northants.pnn.police.uk or calling 101, extension 342401.

As a service we are committed to working towards a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we proudly serve. To help us achieve this, we have a dedicated Positive Action Team that ensure we recruit from the widest possible talent, including those from ethnic minority communities, women, and the LGBTQ+ community. To find out more please visit www.PositiveActionPolice.co.uk

Northamptonshire Police is a Disability Confident Employer

To find out more about the role of a PCSO, go online at

Join as a PCSO | Northamptonshire Police (northants.police.uk)  

 

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