Updated PSCO guidance to be published
The College of Policing will publish a new guidance handbook for police community support officers (PCSOs) later this year.
The College of Policing will publish a new guidance handbook for police community support officers (PCSOs) later this year.
The handbook is being created by the colleges Local Policing Programme (LPP), which will review and update the previous guidance published by the Association of Chief Police Officers in 2007.
It is expected the guidance will be published in December and will provide greater clarity about PCSOs roles and functions, as well as highlighting good practice.
The college says revising the guidance was necessary given the how the role has developed, especially in the current climate of austerity and reducing resources where a demand for service has, in some forces, seen PCSOs operating outside of their core role and training.
Brian Davies, from the College of Policing, said: PSCOs presence in communities means they are often best placed to engage with those who conduct, and are affected by, anti-social behaviour and disorder.
As the police service continues to evolve and innovate to deliver a high-quality service against financial constraints and reduced staff, there is a need more than ever to ensure the wider police service can meet the needs of communities.
The LPP was established to create an evidence base of what works in local policing. In the next three years it will examine resourcing, predictive policing and the use of technology.