Citizen Focus and Neighbourhood Policing...
Transcript of Citizen Focus and Neighbourhood Policing...
Monitoring Report on the PCSO Review recommendations
March 2010
Citizen Focus and Neighbourhood Policing Programme
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CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................ 3
INTRODUCTION...................................................................................... 6
METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................... 6
REVIEW OF PROGRESS........................................................................... 7
1. ROLE...................................................................................................7 2. POWERS ...............................................................................................7 3. SELECTION............................................................................................9
4. TRAINING ...........................................................................................10 5. CAREER DEVELOPMENT ...........................................................................11
6. SUPERVISION.......................................................................................12 7. UNIFORM ............................................................................................13 8. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)....................................................14
9. AGE ..................................................................................................15 10. OTHER ISSUES ...................................................................................16
CONCLUSION........................................................................................ 18
APPENDIX 1 – PCSO ROLE AND PRINCIPLES ..............................................19
APPENDIX 2 – GLOSSARY .......................................................................20
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report looks at further progress made against the outstanding recommendations outlined in both the PCSO Review (July 2008) and the PCSO
Progress Report (August 2009) at both a national and local level.
The PCSO Progress Report discharged 18 of the 22 recommendations although further monitoring of the outstanding recommendations was required and these are outlined in the report. An update has also been provided for other
recommendations where relevant. Forces were contacted in November 2009 to provide an update on delivery against outstanding recommendations. All forces
responded by mid-December 2009. Headlines from the Monitoring Report are as follows:
Recommendation 2: The recommendation about further evaluation of PCSOs
was discharged by the Responsiveness and Accountability Board on 2 March 2010. As PCSOs are now firmly embedded within neighbourhood policing teams it was felt that evaluation would not be useful at this time. Any further request
to evaluate would need to be commissioned by the Tripartite.
Recommendation 4: Protecting the Public: Supporting the Police to Succeed, published in December 2009, outlined that the government would legislate (in the next Parliament) to empower PCSOs with two new discretionary powers
(seizing fireworks and graffiti implements). Two current discretionary powers would be removed (escorting abnormal loads and enforcing park trading
offences).
Recommendation 6: There has been a reduction in the number of forces using the national application form from 34 to 30. Two forces had adopted the form, whereas six forces who stated that they were using the form during the Progress
Report consultation now stated they were not using it. In four cases, forces had stated they were using the form although they only planned to use it and had
not yet adopted (although two planned to adopt in 2010). One force now uses the SEARCH process for PCSOs and PCs and the remaining force stated they had experienced a reduction in applications and found the process too expensive so
had abandoned it.
Recommendation 7: The number of forces that have adopted the Wider Police Learning and Development Programme since the PCSO Progress Report consultation has increased from 13 to 20.
Recommendation 8: Since the Progress Report a further two forces have
adopted the recommendation to use PCSO tutors taking the total number of forces using PCSO tutors to 33.
Recommendation 10: The PCSO qualification has been slightly delayed and should be available in March 2010. 15 forces plan to adopt the PCSO
qualification. A further 19 forces are considering adoption. Nine forces do not intend to adopt the qualification at the current time.
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Recommendation 12: The number of forces where PCSOs are supervised by a
Police Sergeant as part of a neighbourhood policing team has increased from 41 to 42.
Recommendation 14: Since the Progress Report, Protecting the Public: Supporting the Police to Succeed, mandated the procurement of a distinct single
national uniform for PCSOs to be in place by 2012.
Recommendation 16: Guidance in operational risk assessments was
presented to Chief Constables in October 2009 and approved. However, a final
publication date has not yet been announced.
Recommendation 22: The original recommendation, to consider financial
sustainability beyond 2008/09 had been achieved and this recommendation has therefore been discharged. Since the Progress Report was published, no further
commitment has been made to secure funding beyond 2010/11. Protecting the Public: Supporting the Police to Succeed reiterated the commitment to maintain the funding ringfence for PCSOs through the current Comprehensive Spending
Review in order to maintain PCSOs as part of neighbourhood policing teams.
The recommendations and current status are given below:
1 Forces to adopt the role and principles for
PCSOs.
Discharged
2 The NPIA to consider with the tripartite
partners whether further evaluation of PCSOs is required.
Discharged1
3 Forces should review currently designated powers to ensure they are all required and used
by their PCSOs.
Discharged
4 Following the Home Office powers audit, the NPIA will work with forces and the Home Office
to consider additional and/or alternative powers and seek to resolve any anomalies.
Discharged
5 The NPIA will work with forces to ensure that suitable training and awareness is available at
all levels of the service in the role, deployment and powers of PCSOs.
Discharged
6 Forces should recruit to defined National Standards using the national application form (long or short version) and the Integrated
Competency Framework (ICF) behaviours agreed as core to the PCSO role.
Discharged - ACPO Lead will write to forces about further adoption of the
application form and ICF behaviours.
7 Forces should adopt the WPLDP product by April 2009
Not discharged - ACPO Lead will write to forces
1 This recommendation was discharged by the Responsiveness and Accountability Board
on 2 March 2010. As PCSOs are now firmly embedded within neighbourhood policing
teams it was felt that evaluation would not be useful at this time. Any further request to
evaluate would need to be commissioned by the Tripartite.
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about this issue.
8 Forces should ensure that tutoring for new PCSOs is done by trained PCSO tutors.
Discharged
9 Forces should review their refresher training to ensure it includes elements on problem solving and engagement.
Discharged
10 Forces should consider the adoption of a national NVQ (now PCSO Qualification)
developed between the NPIA and Skills for Justice and/or the CLDP Neighbourhood Policing
module.
Discharged – ACPO Lead will write to forces about
this issue.
11 The NPIA should develop a national strategy for
the recognition of Accredited Prior Experience and Learning (APEL) for the PCSOs transferring to become police officers.
Discharged
12 Forces should ensure supervision of PCSOs is provided by Police Sergeants working as part of
a Neighbourhood Policing Team.
Discharged
13 Forces should review their existing supervision
ratios to ensure these are realistic and in line with good practice.
Discharged
14 Forces adopt the principles related to PCSO uniform by September 2008.
Discharged (ongoing monitoring by ACPO Police Uniform Working
Group)
15 Future issues relating to PCSO uniform should
be referred to the ACPO Police Uniform Working Group.
Discharged (ongoing
monitoring by ACPO Police Uniform Working
Group)
16 The NPIA should provide guidance in
operational risk assessment to ensure that decision making and control measures are consistent.
Discharged
17 Forces should conduct a full risk assessment around PPE issued to PCSOs, which is aligned
to the corporate role and expectations of PCSOs as set out in Recommendation 1.
Discharged
18 Forces should ensure a clear training programme for PCSOs in personal safety and
conflict management/ resolution.
Discharged
19 Forces should employ PCSOs over the age of 18
years.
Discharged
20 The NPIA, with the support of the Tripartite,
should work together to raise public awareness of the role of the PCSO in neighbourhood policing.
Discharged
21 Forces should seek to increase awareness of the role of PCSOs internally.
Discharged
22 The Tripartite partners consider how to address the issue of financial sustainability beyond
2008/09.
Discharged
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INTRODUCTION
Background
In July 2008 the Citizen Focus and Neighbourhood Policing Programme (CF&NPPP) of the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) published the
Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Review which made 22 recommendations.
The NPIA had been commissioned by the Tripartite agencies - Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Home Office and the Association of Police
Authorities (APA) - to conduct the Review in response to issues highlighted in relation to a number of areas including the PCSO role, their powers, training,
supervision and uniforms. The NPIA agreed to review progress against each recommendation across all 43
forces in England and Wales in relation to these recommendations. The NPIA Progress Report, published in August 2009, provided the first update on the
recommendations. It found that 18 of the 22 recommendations had been discharged. Six of the 18 recommendations were subject to further monitoring
by the NPIA. In addition, the remaining four recommendations (2, 7, 19 and 22) were subject to further action.
PCSO Monitoring Report – January 2010
This Monitoring Report looks at the activities that have been undertaken nationally and locally to further progress the outstanding recommendations from the PCSO Review (July 2008) and PCSO Progress Report (August 2009).
The PCSO Progress Report discharged 18 of the 22 recommendations although
further monitoring of the outstanding recommendations (5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 14) was required and these are outlined in the report. An update has also been provided for other recommendations.
METHODOLOGY
In November 2009, the CF&NPP team requested forces to provide an update on
progress against outstanding recommendations using a template questionnaire. All 43 forces in England and Wales completed and returned the template by
mid-December 2009.
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REVIEW OF PROGRESS
1. Role
Recommendation 1:
Forces to adopt the role and principles for PCSOs.
As part of the Progress Report all forces stated that they had fully adopted the
role and principles of PCSOs. The recommendation was therefore discharged
and no further action was taken.
Recommendation 2:
The NPIA consider with the tripartite partners whether further
evaluation of the use of PCSOs is required, specifically looking at:
• Contribution of PCSOs to confidence and satisfaction.
• Benefits in efficiency, costs and freeing up sworn officers (added
value).
• Contribution to crime and ASB reduction.
• Improvements in the awareness and understanding of the role by
the public.
The further embedding of PCSOs within Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs),
has moved the debate beyond a separate evaluation towards the contribution made by NPTs to the single confidence target. There are no plans to undertake
further evaluation of the PCSO role and this request was discharged by the Reassurance and Accountability Group on 2 March 2010.
2. Powers
Recommendation 3:
Forces should review currently designated powers to ensure they are
all required and used by their PCSOs.
Most forces had undertaken a review of powers (as well as responding to the
ACPO Powers Audit outlined in recommendation 4). This recommendation was therefore discharged and no further monitoring has taken place.
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Recommendation 4:
Following the Home Office powers audit, the NPIA will work with
forces and the Home Office to: (a) consider additional and/or
alternative powers and (b) seek to resolve any anomalies.
The Progress Report found that many of the discretionary powers are not used and two of the standard powers were highlighted as problematic (‘photographing
persons subject of an FPN or detained persons away from the station’ and ‘power to seize drugs and require name and address for possession of drugs).
ACPO wrote to forces in late 2009 in relation to specific issues raised in regard to powers.
Since the publication of the Progress Report, Protecting the Public: Supporting the Police to Succeed, was published by the government (December 2009). It
outlined that the government would legislate (in the next Parliament) to empower PCSOs with two new discretionary powers (seizing fireworks and graffiti implements). Two current discretionary powers would be removed:
escorting abnormal loads and enforcing park trading offences.
Recommendation 5:
The NPIA will work with forces to ensure that suitable training and
awareness is available at all levels of the service in the role,
deployment and powers of PCSOs.
This recommendation was discharged in the PCSO Progress Report, However,
forces were asked to provide examples of activities and these included: • Introducing a PCSO Deployment Procedure document linked to training
and awareness sessions to PCSOs, Sergeants, Neighbourhood Policing
Teams and Targeted Patrol teams. • Giving staff the opportunity to patrol with a PCSO to give an insight into
work undertaken. • Inclusion of PCSO awareness raising as part of the training of Student
Police Officers.
• A dedicated neighbourhood policing course mandatory for all officers engaged in neighbourhood policing.
• Specific internal marketing measures including newsletter articles and awards as well as the inclusion of information about the PCSO role and
powers in training courses for first and second line managers. • Six-monthly Extended Policing Family meetings where issues relating to
Special Constables, PCSOs and volunteers are discussed and
communicated to the Neighbourhood Police Board. It also runs Neighbourhood Policing Practitioner conferences which focus on
Neighbourhood Policing Teams, problem solving and case studies with prizes for the best entries.
• Circulating a memo from Assistant Chief Constable for Operations to all
neighbourhood policing Sergeants and PCSOs recognising the good work undertaken by PCSOs.
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3. Selection
Recommendation 6:
Forces should recruit to defined National Standards using the national
application form (long or short version) and the Integrated Competency
Framework (ICF) behaviours agreed as core to the PCSO role.
In April 2006 the Home Office introduced a national selection process for PCSOs which comprised a national application form and assessment centres. The full
version of the national application form for PCSOs was introduced in December 2007 with a shorter form also available for those forces who felt that the longer version was not suitable for their needs.
The Progress Reported that 79% of forces (34) were using the national recruitment application form and 95% (41 forces) were using the Integrated
Competency Framework.
Following further monitoring of forces, it was found that 30 forces (a reduction of four) are now using the national recruitment application form. The number of forces using the Integrated Competency Framework remains at 41.
Two forces had adopted the national application form since the Progress Report
consultation meaning that six forces that had confirmed they were using the application form as part of the Progress Report consultation were no longer doing so.
Of these six forces, two which had stated they were using the form had only
planned to use it and then decided not to. Two further forces had delayed adoption until 2010. One force had trialled the application form in the past but stated that they experienced a significantly lower return rate and higher costs
associated with the process (due to the requirement for them to be externally marked). The sixth force used the form but now uses the Police SEARCH process
for all potential Police Constable and PCSO candidates. The forces who have yet to adopt the national application form gave numerous
reasons for not using it: • Only recruiting a small number of PCSOs and not seeing the value in
adopting the form. • Being satisfied with their own recruitment processes. • Planning to review the recruitment process in the near future with
consideration being given to adopt the national application form in future.
The ACPO Lead for PCSOs will write to forces specifically about their use of the
application form and ICF behaviours.
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4. Training
Recommendation 7:
Forces should adopt the Wider Police Learning and Development
Programme (WPLDP) product by April 2009. (In the interim, forces
who have not should ensure their product meets the learning outcomes
of the WPLDP product).
The NPIA developed a national training product for PCSOs contained within the Wider Police Learning and Development Programme (WPLDP). This was released
to forces in September 2007, and is accessible via the National Centre for Applied Learning Technologies (NCALT) Managed Learning Environment (MLE).
The number of forces that have adopted the WPLDP since the PCSO Progress Report consultation has increased from 13 to 20. Out of the forces that did not
use the WPLDP at the time, 15 stated that they ensured that their own product met the learning outcomes of the WPLDP.
The ACPO Lead for PCSOs will write to forces specifically about adopting the
WPLDP.
Recommendation 8:
Forces should ensure that tutoring for new PCSOs is done by trained
PCSO tutors.
The Progress Report found that the tutoring of PCSOs was carried out by PCSOs
in 72% (31) of forces. In the majority of these cases PCSOs have been formally trained to be a PCSO tutor. Since the Progress Report a further two forces have
adopted the recommendation taking the total to 33 forces. Recommendation 9:
Forces should review their refresher training to ensure it includes
elements on problem solving and engagement.
The Progress Report found that 74% (32 forces) had reviewed their refresher training to include elements on problem solving and engagement. There are now
37 forces that have reviewed refresher training including elements on problem solving and engagement.
Some forces that had not reviewed refresher training were taking different approaches including professional development courses, National Centre for
Applied Learning Technologies (NCALT) training modules or training for neighbourhood policing teams (including PCSOs) rather than specific PCSO
training. Some also planned undertake a review during 2010.
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5. Career Development
Recommendation 10:
Forces should consider the adoption of a national NVQ developed
between the NPIA and Skills for Justice and/or the CLDP
Neighbourhood Policing module.
The Review reinforced the view that there was a lack of career development opportunities for PCSOs. NVQs are now being phased out nationally. In their place, the new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) offers an opportunity
to develop a role-specific qualification that is fully aligned to the associated qualification for officers completing IPLDP.
The PCSO qualification has been slightly delayed and should be available in March 2010. Skills for Justice are also exploring the ‘Train to Gain’ scheme, a set
of government-backed apprenticeships, in order to assess whether funding may be available for forces to train PCSOs.
15 forces plan to adopt the PCSO qualification. A further 19 forces are keen to
consider the qualification. Nine forces do not intend to adopt the qualification at
the current time.
Reasons given for not considering the adoption of the PCSO qualification
included:
• Forces having already developed their own qualification which is
accredited by a local university or further education institution.
• The resources and costs that some forces perceived as being needed to
roll out a qualification.
• Some forces having a large number of PCSOs which could lead to a high
demand for the qualification without the corresponding resources to be
able to meet demand.
• Abstraction of PCSOs from frontline duty to complete the qualification.
• Wanting to assess the effectiveness of the qualification by other forces
before committing to it.
22 forces use the CLDP Neighbourhood Policing module for PCSOs, an increase
of five forces. 21 forces do not currently use the module. Reasons for not using
the module included:
• Lack of promotion opportunities within the PCSO role rendering the CLDP
module ‘unnecessary’.
• Some forces using bespoke training documents and accrediting PCSOs
with a qualification accredited by a local university instead.
• Some forces being satisfied that current training delivery already meets
the needs of PCSOs.
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The ACPO Lead for PCSOs will write to forces specifically about adopting the
qualification.
Recommendation 11:
The NPIA should develop a national strategy for the recognition of
Accredited Prior Experience and Learning (APEL) for PCSOs transferring
to become police officers.
Forces were increasingly seeing people wanting to be PCSOs as the first step to
becoming a police officer but with no direct route for progression in place.
The National Qualification for PCSOs by the NPIA is due to be launched in
March 2010 and should help to standardise the assessment process nationally
and contribute to the process of accrediting prior experience and learning.
6. Supervision
Recommendation 12:
Forces should ensure supervision of PCSOs is provided by Police
Sergeants working as part of a Neighbourhood Policing Team.
The current ACPO guidance states that, although day to day direction and
tasking can be provided by a Constable, the responsibility for supervision remains with a uniformed Sergeant operating within the NPT.
The Progress Report found that PCSOs were supervised (as opposed to directed or tasked) by NPT Sergeants in 41 forces (95%). 42 forces now ensure
supervision of PCSOs is provided by Police Sergeants working as part of a Neighbourhood Policing Team.
Only one force has PCSOs who are not supervised by a Sergeant. In their case the team that includes PCSOs is jointly funded by the force and the local Youth
Offending Team (YOT). The programme that the PCSOs work within grew from a pilot Safer School Partnership project which was based in a small part of the
county but which now covers the entire county. The officers provide intensive intervention in dealing with problem solving and engagement activities with young people. The team is managed by a YOT manager.
Recommendation 13:
Forces should review their existing supervision ratios to ensure these
are realistic and in line with good practice.
The Progress Report found that 27 forces (63%) had reviewed supervision ratios since March 2008. This recommendation was therefore discharged with no further action taken.
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7. Uniform
Recommendation 14: Forces adopt the principles related to PCSO uniform by September 2008.
The uniform principles are set out to ensure a common approach and
appearance: • The uniform should be of good quality, fit for the duties performed and ensure
the health and safety of the wearer • It must be distinct from that of a police officer • It should identify the wearer as a “Police Community Support Officer” or
“Community Support Officer” • The uniform should identify the wearer as a member of the wider police force
they belong to • The PCSO identifying features should be nationally consistent:
o Plain blue hat band o Plain blue epaulettes o Plain blue tie
The Progress Report highlighted that 58% (25 forces) were complying with the
full set of principles relating to PCSO uniform. 42% (18 forces) were not complying with one or more of the identifying features (plain blue hat band, epaulettes and tie). It was agreed that any future monitoring would be
undertaken by the ACPO Uniform Working Group.
Since the Progress Report, Protecting the Public: Supporting the Police to Succeed, published by the government in December 2009, mandated the procurement of a distinct single national uniform for PCSOs to be in place by
2012 to make them a highly visible and instantly recognisable presence across England and Wales.
Elements of that uniform will use the already familiar blue colour (often used, for example, in PCSO hat bands) to enable the public to easily tell police officers and
PCSOs apart. The government outlined that forces would still be able to use local insignia as part of the national uniform.
It is expected that any work to standardise uniforms nationally would take place through the ACPO Police Uniform Working Group (PUWG).
Prior to the announcement, work had already started through the PUWG
Specification Development Sub-Group on reaching definitive requirements for three uniform dress categories in liaison with the forces. The aim was to have a single type of each item of uniform clothing specified and national branding of
the Service, e.g., of the word Police as it appears on clothing or the use of chequered banding, but to retain local distinguishing items and decision making,
e.g., tie or cravat for women officers, tunic with belt or not, etc. Following the publication of the PCSO Progress Report, the nine ACPO Regional
Conference members of the PUWG were written to in October 2009, reminded of Recommendation 14 and informed that many variations remained in existence
across forces.
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They were asked to ascertain the current position of each force in their region
against the recommendation. PUWG Specification Development Sub-Group members have been given a copy of the forces’ returns to the NPIA and also
asked to check the current position against what forces said they would or would not adopt.
Recommendation 15:
Future issues relating to PCSO uniform should be referred to the ACPO
Police Uniform Working Group.
The Review recommended that any future issues relating to PCSO uniform
should be referred to the reconstituted ACPO Police Uniform Working Group.
Forces reacted positively to this recommendation and were happy to take a
steer from the ACPO Police Uniform Working Group on issues relating to
uniform whilst highlighting the expense and the time needed for forces to make
any changes to uniform.
The ACPO Uniform Working Group has met since the PCSO Progress Report and
work is taking place to map current uniform across all forces (see Recommendation 14).
8. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Recommendation 16:
The NPIA should provide guidance in operational risk assessment to
ensure that decision making and control measures are consistent.
The Review found that all forces had risk assessments for the deployment of PCSOs and that most forces managed risk using the primary control measures of appropriate training, deployment restrictions and management control. Some
forces, however, made different decisions and implemented different control measures having identified the same or similar risks.
The Progress Report outlined that the NPIA was producing general risk guidance
that would also be relevant to the PCSO role. The guidance is in three parts:
1. A strategic introduction to operational risk management 2. Practice advice on improving operational decision making
3. Practice advice on managing risk through formal risk identification, assessment and management models.
Since the Progress Report, the guidance has been presented to Chief Constables
in October 2009 and approved. However, a final publication date has not yet
been announced.
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Recommendation 17:
Forces should conduct a full risk assessment around PPE issued to
PCSOs, which is aligned to the corporate role and expectations of PCSOs
as set out in Recommendation 1.
Current ACPO guidance allows for forces to determine what level of personal protective equipment (PPE) is allocated to PCSOs.
The Progress Report found that 49% (21 forces) had undertaken a full risk
assessment in relation to PPE issued to PCSOs since March 2008. Since the Progress Report, 27 forces now state that they have undertaken a risk
assessment in relation to PPE since March 2008. Of the forces that had not, several reasons were given:
• The PCSO role not being subjected to many changes since the original full assessment was carried out during the roll out of the PCSO role.
• No further PPE being issued to PCSOs since the last risk assessment, with
some forces deeming a further risk assessment unnecessary due to them only needing completion if new hazards are introduced that may cause
serious harm. • Risk assessments, such as those based on deployment or specific issues,
being undertaken but not a full risk assessment.
• Risk assessments being scheduled during 2010 as part of a long-term review cycle.
Recommendation 18:
Forces should ensure a clear training programme for PCSOs in personal
safety and conflict management/resolution.
The Review highlighted that PCSOs felt they did not receive sufficient training, especially refresher training, in personal safety and conflict management/resolution. Some inconsistencies were found across forces in this
area and the Review highlighted that forces should ensure the establishment of an appropriate training strategy to address these needs.
The Progress Report found that all forces had a training programme, which had been received by all their PCSOs, in personal safety and conflict management.
This recommendation was therefore discharged and no further monitoring has been undertaken.
9. Age
Recommendation 19:
Forces should employ PCSOs over the age of 18 years.
In November 2007 the Home Secretary, with the support of ACPO, announced that the minimum age for PCSOs should be 18 years. At part of the Progress
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Report consultation all forces stated that they were compliant with this recommendation. The recommendation was therefore discharged and no further
monitoring has taken place.
10. Other Issues
During the review a number of other issues were identified and those deemed worthy of consideration are outlined below.
10. 1. Awareness and understanding by the public and the media
Recommendation 20:
The NPIA, with the support of the Tripartite, should work together to
raise public awareness of the role of the PCSO in neighbourhood
policing.
The Progress Report recorded several developments in relation to this
recommendation and no further monitoring has taken place.
In line with the decision not to pursue a national campaign solely for PCSOs due
to the role now being firmly embedded into Neighbourhood Policing Teams, the work of PCSOs was covered by a more general communications campaign entitled ‘Justice Seen, Justice Done’. Launched in March 2009 it is using a variety
of methods, both nationally and locally, to communicate aspects of neighbourhood policing. The communications campaign involves forces using
local newspaper advertorials, with a push for forces to take the opportunity to get their work, results and actions communicated directly to the public in their
local media.
Recommendation 21:
Forces should seek to increase awareness of the role of PCSOs internally.
The Progress Report recorded several developments in relation to this
recommendation and no further monitoring has taken place.
The Progress Report highlighted that forces were using a range of methods to raise the profile and awareness of the PCSO role in forces. Some had reviewed the training all new entrants receive to ensure all were given an understanding
of the role. Others had utilised internal communications campaigns including force-wide newsletters, posters, bespoke briefings for teams, poster campaigns,
the intranet and dedicated micro-sites, PCSO conferences and presentations, and integration training with other pillars of policing, and the involvement of a Citizen Focus Officer with a focus on PCSOs.
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10. 2 Funding
Recommendation 22: The tripartite partners consider how to address the issue of financial sustainability beyond 2008/09.
In Sir Ronnie Flanagan’s report, the need to continue to ring-fence the
Neighbourhood Policing Fund (the Home Office fund specifically for PCSOs) for an additional year was identified. The then Home Secretary, in her subsequent response, agreed that ringfencing should remain for 2008/09.
The Progress Report highlighted that financial support had been guaranteed
until 2010/2011 meaning the recommendation has been discharged. Since the Progress Report was published, no further commitment has been
made to secure funding beyond 2010/11. Protecting the Public: Supporting the Police to Succeed, published by the government in December, reiterated the
commitment to maintain the funding ringfence for PCSOs through the current Comprehensive Spending Review in order to maintain PCSOs as part of
neighbourhood policing teams.
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CONCLUSION
The recommendations made as part of the PCSO Review in July 2008 were
challenging with some requiring more activity than others. The PCSO Progress Report recorded that strong progress had been made, with
18 of the 22 recommendations being discharged. The NPIA has monitored all outstanding recommendations and, as outlined in the Progress Report,
specifically contacted forces in late 2009 in relation to those recommendations needing further work.
The Monitoring Report highlights that all recommendations have been discharged except Recommendation 7 which relates to training. The ACPO Lead
for PCSOs will write to forces in relation to this matter. The Reassurance and Accountability Group met on 2 March 2010 and agreed
that the PCSO Monitoring Report marks the culmination of the NPIA’s work to monitor the recommendations outlined in the PCSO Review.
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APPENDIX 1 – PCSO ROLE AND PRINCIPLES
PCSOs should be:
Integrated into a Neighbourhood Policing Team (normally geographic but could be for a defined community of interest for example, Safer Transport teams)
or
Deployed to directly support Neighbourhood Policing Team(s) in their
neighbourhoods (in both the above the PCSO should spend the majority of their time within neighbourhoods and not be office/police station based and/or undertaking administrative roles)
And with all the below principles applying:
• Undertake public facing duties in uniform • Visible in the communities on foot or cycle patrol (vehicle if rural community) • Deal with anti-social behaviour (ASB), low level crime and incidents, local
problems/priorities and quality of life issues • Support and improve service to victims and vulnerable people
• Conduct engagement and problem solving activity
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APPENDIX 2 – GLOSSARY
ACPO Association of Chief Police Officers
APA Association of Police Authorities
APEL Accredited Prior Experience and Learning
BCU Basic Command Unit
CDRP Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership
CF&NPP Citizen Focus and Neighbourhood Policing Programme
CLDP Core Leadership and Development Programme
FPN Fixed Penalty Notice
HMIC Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary
HO Home Office
ICF Integrated Competency Framework
IPLDP Initial Police Learning and Development Programme
MLE Managed Learning Environment
NAC National Assessment Centre
NCALT National Centre for Applied Learning Technologies
NOS National Occupational Standards
NP Neighbourhood Policing
NPIA National Policing Improvement Agency
NPT Neighbourhood Policing Team
NVQ National Vocational Qualification
PC Police Constable
PCSO Police Community Support Officer
PDR Performance Development Review
PS Police Sergeant
QCF Qualifications and Credit Framework
RAC Recruit Assessment Centre
WPLDP Wider Police Learning and Development Programme
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