The role of Police Community Support Officers in York (From York Press)

The role of Police Community Support Officers in York

9:42am Friday 12th March 2010 in

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“WE’RE celebrating the birth of our grandson,” says one of the drunks, seemingly unsure which of them is the grandfather.

A crowd gathers in the Coppergate Centre as PCSO Katie Rea steps in. She discovers the pair are trying to get to Leeds, so she radios in to get the next train time before issuing a word of warning to keep the noise down.

They are harmless enough but it’s Katie’s job to ensure they don’t make a nuisance of themselves. They promise to behave and head quietly to the railway station, arm in arm.

This time it’s an exercise but from Monday it will be for real. A group of student Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are taking their first tentative steps on the beat in the centre ahead of their graduation.

The police were yesterday accused of not taking antisocial behaviour seriously, but it doesn’t look that way in York, where these PCSOs are being put through their paces.

North Yorkshire Police has organised a community practical day designed to test their communication skills by using role plays to consolidate classroom theory. The students range in age from 18 to 40 and their presence sets tongues wagging because the sheer presence of uniform is an impressive sight.

A group of youths takes one look, stops and with an “Oh s***” beats a hasty retreat around the corner.

Kayleigh Rae’s radio crackles; five tough-looking lads have been reported for daubing graffiti in the Piccadilly car park and she is told to investigate. She notices that one has fresh pen marks on his trousers.

“It wasn’t me,” the lad protests. But Kayleigh thinks he may be the ring leader, so she takes him to one side, as she has been trained to do, before asking for his name and address. If he fails to give this information, she will call for police assistance and arrest him by using her power of detention.

For Kayleigh this is a proud and exciting day – and one she has been looking forward to since she can’t remember when. With butterflies aplenty, she is wearing her uniform for the first time in public.

While her father is bursting with pride, Kayleigh, 21, from York, can’t decide whether she is excited or a nervous wreck. The eight-week course at police headquarters has been thorough, but now she has to prove she has what it takes.

On Monday the red ‘student officer’ slide will have gone; in its place will be a blue one – the symbol of a qualified PCSO – and Kayleigh will pound the streets offering reassurance as a member of a safer neighbourhoods team.

She won’t be alone. After today’s graduation, student officers spend nine months on probation working with mentors. The difference is that next week, Kayleigh and her fellow graduates will be making the decisions and the tutor will only step in if necessary.

“The scenarios are all really different,” she says. “We’ve spent eight weeks in the classroom but the role-plays keep you on your toes.

“I think the most important skill we’re having to use is communication. The big thing is to be confident; when we approached the lads in the car park it was important not to let them think you’re scared.

“Today has been really useful. It is all about being out with the public and although I felt nervous and a bit scared at the start, when I come to my first day out on patrol, I’ll know what to expect.”

Kayleigh’s student partner for the day is Natalie Bridson, 29, from Knaresborough.

“I’ve been trying to join the police for ten years and tried three times. Today felt strange to begin with and I’ve been really nervous all morning, but I’m okay now and my confidence has really grown,” she says.

“Everyone has been staring at us but I’m proud to wear my uniform in public. I’m really looking forward to Monday.”

“If you have a bit of chit-chat first, you can often get people on your side,” says Kayleigh.

“There is a lot of responsibility, but you don’t think about it that way, you just get on with it because that’s what we’re here for.

“Since I joined it’s been brilliant and a real eye-opener. It’s been a great experience so far and it’s only been eight weeks.”

Course tutor Andy Hardey says PCSOs play a vital role in crime prevention and raising police presence. “They are the high-profile side of the police; the answer to people’s criticism that they never see enough of us,” he says.

“Fear of crime is the biggest worry and to see a uniform is about providing visibility and reassurance to the public.

“The tutor’s job is to build their confidence and remove preconceived ideas from the likes of The Bill and to keep everything realistic.”

Last night, Kayleigh probably won’t have slept a wink because today she and her fellow students are graduating, along with 28 police officers, in North Yorkshire’s first joint passing-out parade. And she may need a good lie-in over the weekend. When she wakes up on Monday, Kayleigh will put on her uniform and the student tabs will be gone. Then it will be for real.

What a PCSO does

POLICE Community Support Officers support the work of the police force and provide a visible presence on the streets. The role is full time and paid, but with different powers to regular officers.

PCSOs work to reassure the public and to tackle antisocial behaviour. They work under the direction of a police commander and spend much of their time on patrol in communities.

Crime and disorder problems handled by PCSOs include dealing with truants, graffiti and abandoned vehicles, as well as supporting victims and confiscating alcohol being consumed in a public place.

They also help to control crowds at major events.

The visible presence

WHEN PCSOs were introduced, no one knew how to structure their training.

“We struggled for the first couple of years,” says tutor Robin Barker.

“But it has evolved and improved significantly. Now PCSOs are very much the eyes and ears of the police and provide the reassurance and visibility the public has wanted for donkeys years, and often police officers don’t have the time to do that.

“They are also a vital source of intelligence and the very important community liaison with our partners in the safer neighbourhood scheme.

“I think eight years down the line, the training and the way PCSOs are used is almost unrecognisable.

“We have a very clear list of competencies and it’s much more structured on a national scale. Our chief constable is very sold on the safer neighbourhood schemes and sees PCSOs as a fundamental part of it. So in order for them to fulfil their role in the most effective way, he has given them the full set of powers, short of warranted powers of arrest.

“I think we need to be careful about giving them warranted powers, because it would begin to blur the distinction between PCSOs and police officers. I don’t think it is the way to go. They were brought in for a very specific purpose and people now understand that their role is to provide visibility and reassurance.”