Monitoring Report on the PCSO Review recommendations

March 2010

Citizen Focus and Neighbourhood Policing Programme

Page 2 of 21

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.

Page 4 of 21

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

Page 6 of 21

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.

Page 8 of 21

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.

Page 12 of 21

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.

Page 13 of 21

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.

Page 14 of 21

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.

Page 15 of 21

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

Page 16 of 21

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.

Page 18 of 21

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.

Page 19 of 21

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

Page 20 of 21

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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Contact us For further information, please contact us at:

National Policing Improvement Agency

Citizen Focus and Neighbourhood Policing Programme 10 Victoria Street, 3rd Floor – Westminster Wing London SW1H 0NN

T: 020 7147 8026 E: cfnpp@npia.pnn.police.uk

www.npia.police.uk www.neighbourhoodpolicing.co.uk