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Make A Visible Difference To Your Community
During the course of the next financial year, the Metropolitan Police
Service (MPS) hopes to recruit 1500 more Police Community Support
Officers (PCSOs) to facilitate the roll out of Safer Neighbourhoods
Teams across the capital. The teams consist of three police officers and three PCSOs
dedicated to a local area.
On Friday 7th July and Saturday 8th July 2006 the MPS will be hosting
open days at Avonmouth House, 6 Avonmouth Street, SE1 between 9am-4pm. The
open days are aimed at encouraging more people to become PCSOs and there
will be a number of police staff on hand to talk about their experiences in
the role and working with their local communities. In addition, the Met
Careers Team will be in attendance to offer advice and guidance and to assist in the
application process.
PCSOs play an integral role in the Safer Neighbourhood Teams
(SNT), primarily to engage with Londoners to better understand their local
needs. They were first introduced to London in 2002 to provide the city with
an increased visible police presence and to reassure the public.
PCSO Kiran Cheema works on a SNT in Newham. She said:
"I consider myself to be a people person and didn't want to do a
normal nine to five job. Being on a small team where you only deal with your ward
is great; everyone gets to know you and comes to you with their
problems. Its very satisfying helping people out and making a personal difference
in the
community."
Being a PCSO carries a number of benefits such as a generous basic pay
package and annual leave entitlement, free travel on London's buses
and the possibility of flexible working hours. PCSO's receive a salary of up to
£25,000 depending on location and shift disturbance allowance.
Chief Superintendent Steve Bloomfield, Head of the Safer Neighbourhoods
Programme said:
"PCSOs contribute to policing in London by providing a visible and
reassuring presence. They also play a vital role in Safer
Neighbourhoods Teams where they work alongside Police Officers. The teams
work with the local community to identify and tackle local problems such as anti-
social behaviour or graffiti."
Attendance at the PCSO event is by invitation only. To book a place
please call 0870 067 3684 or for further information go to
www.metpolicecareers.co.uk/pcso
How to get there:
The nearest stations are Elephant & Castle or Borough (tube) or 20
minutes walk from London Bridge (tube/BR).
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