Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)
Make a difference where it matters most
Join British Transport Police as a Police Community Support Officer and play a vital role in protecting passengers, supporting communities and keeping the railway safe.
Location: Shrewsbury
Salary: £29,483.96 per year
Shift Allowance: Up to 20%, with a minimum of 15% after training
Annual Leave: 28 days, rising to 30 days with service
Why become a BTP PCSO?
Police Community Support Officers are an integral part of British Transport Police.
As a PCSO, you will provide a visible and reassuring presence across the railway network. You will engage with passengers, support railway staff, respond to local concerns and build trusted relationships with the communities we serve.
Chief Superintendent David Rams explains:
“Our PCSOs are an integral part of British Transport Police. They carry out vital work across the railway network to keep passengers and staff safe, delivering an exceptional service to our communities across England and Wales.”
The difference you will make
As a BTP PCSO, you will help prevent crime, reduce disruption, support vulnerable people and build public trust and confidence across the railway network.
No two days will be the same. You will:
An enhanced operational role
Unlike PCSOs in many Home Office police forces, BTP PCSOs are trained and equipped with handcuffs. This reflects the distinctive operational environment in which our PCSOs work and the important contribution they make to keeping the railway safe.
What we are looking for
We are looking for people who:
You do not need previous policing experience to apply. We are interested in your values, motivation, transferable skills and potential to succeed in the role.
What you will receive
In return for the important work you undertake, you will receive:
Develop your career with BTP
A career as a Police Community Support Officer is rewarding and important in its own right.
PCSOs play a vital role in neighbourhood policing, safeguarding vulnerable people, solving problems within communities and building public trust and confidence across the railway network.
British Transport Police is committed to supporting your long-term development. You will have opportunities to broaden your knowledge, strengthen your operational skills and explore career development opportunities across the organisation.
If you later decide to pursue a career as a Police Constable, successful completion of your PCSO probationary period will also satisfy the work experience requirement for the Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP).
This is one of several possible development opportunities available to you and does not diminish the importance or professional standing of the PCSO role.
Where you could work
We are recruiting PCSOs in: Shrewsbury
Working patterns
Policing the railway requires flexibility.
You must be prepared to work shifts, including weekends and bank holidays. Further information about working patterns will be provided during the recruitment process.
Before you apply
Please review the following requirements carefully.
You will not be eligible to apply if:
Visible tattoos will be assessed individually.
Declaring previous matters
All cautions, convictions and previous police involvement must be declared as part of your application.
Declaring a previous matter does not necessarily mean that your application will be unsuccessful. Each case will be considered individually.
Your application journey
1. Online Application
Complete and submit the online application form, providing accurate information about your experience, motivation and suitability for the role.
2. Situational Judgement Test
As part of the selection process, you will complete an online Situational Judgement Test.
The assessment will consider how you are likely to respond to situations that may arise in the PCSO role.
If you are unsuccessful, you may reapply after three months.
3. Further Recruitment Stages
If you successfully complete the initial application and assessment stages, you will receive information about the next stages of the recruitment process.
5. Candidate Pool
Successful applicants will be placed in a 12-month candidate pool and considered for vacancies as they arise.
Placement in the candidate pool does not guarantee an immediate appointment or a posting at a particular location.
We encourage you to attend a Recruitment Q&A Session before applying. The session will help you understand more about the PCSO role, the working environment and the recruitment process.
Everyone is welcome at BTP
British Transport Police is committed to building a workforce where everyone feels that they belong.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences. Diversity strengthens our teams and improves our ability to understand and serve passengers, railway staff and communities.
We are committed to providing a fair and accessible recruitment process.
If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage, please tell us what support you need. We are here to help you participate fully in the recruitment process.
A note about using AI
AI tools may help you organise or structure your application, but your answers should reflect your own experiences, motivation and understanding of the role.
We want to hear your authentic voice. You should be prepared to discuss the examples and information included in your application at later stages of the recruitment process.
Apply now! The closing date for applications is midnight on 29th September 2026.
Need help?
If you have questions about the role, your eligibility, reasonable adjustments or the application process, please contact:
RecruitmentTeam@btp.police.uk
All enquiries will be treated in confidence.
Join British Transport Police and help keep the railway safe every day
