Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) - Bicester

At Thames Valley Police, you’ll be part of a team that works every day to protect and support our communities. You’ll be valued, trained, and encouraged to reach your full potential and you’ll be doing work that genuinely matters.

If you’re looking for a role with purpose, variety, and the chance to help people every day, becoming a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) could be the perfect next step. This is a role where you’ll build trust, support vulnerable people, and help keep neighbourhoods safe all while earning a salary and completing a Level 4 Diploma in Community Policing Practice.

PCSO's are the visible, approachable face of local policing. You’ll be out in the community, solving problems, building relationships, and helping people feel safe and supported.

What you’ll be doing

• Provide a visible presence in local neighbourhoods
• Build strong relationships with residents, businesses, and partners
• Support vulnerable people and respond to community concerns
• Help prevent crime and antisocial behaviour
• Work closely with police officers and partner agencies
• Use your communication skills to defuse situations and offer reassurance

This is a role for someone who is confident, calm under pressure, and committed to helping others.

What you’ll gain

• A permanent role with a clear career pathway
• A Level 4 Diploma in Community Policing Practice
• Ten weeks of structured classroom training
• Ten weeks of on-the-job tutoring
• Ongoing learning and development throughout your first year
• The chance to make a meaningful impact every day

Entry requirements

• Be a British, EC/EEA or Commonwealth citizen, with settled status or indefinite leave to remain.
• Have had a minimum three years’ residency in the UK.
• Be 17 or older at application (you must be 18 on appointment); there’s no upper age limit.
• Hold GCSE English (9–4 / A*–C) or equivalent.
• If you are under 19 and do not hold GCSE Maths (9-4 / A-C) or equivalent, Thames Valley Police will support you to achieve a Level 2 Functional Skills Maths qualification once employed.
• Be in good physical and mental health and able to pass the job-related fitness test.
• Hold a full manual or automatic UK driving licence or be close to passing within 3 to 6 months.

Vetting

All roles require police vetting in line with the National Vetting Code of Practice. Residency requirements help ensure fair and consistent checks. Applications outside standard criteria may be considered with supporting evidence and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Training and start dates

• Ten weeks at our Forces Training Centre in Sulhamstead.
• Ten weeks of local area tutoring.
• One year of combined on- and off-the-job learning to complete your diploma.

Successful applicants will join our recruitment pool for planned intakes during 2026/27, depending on location preferences and vacancies.

As part of Thames Valley Police, you’ll receive:

• 24 days annual leave (pro-rata for part time) + plus Bank Holidays
• Flexible working options
• Lifestyle discounts and Blue Light benefits
• Access to wellbeing services, staff networks, and support programmes
• Career development opportunities across the organisation

Every day as a PCSO brings new challenges, opportunities, and the chance to positively impact the lives of people in your community. If you're looking for a career where your actions matter and your contribution is valued, we'd love to hear from you.

Working Smart

You will be joining an organisation that strives to improve every day. In the post-pandemic era this means changing the way we work and deliver our services, which brings a number of benefits including a more flexible and capable workforce.

Supporting You

Your wellbeing and safety is at the heart of all we do. Whilst you are doing the work that matters, we’ll be supporting you via a wide range of Wellbeing services, partnerships and initiatives. We have a number of active staff support networks and buddy schemes which you will have access to and can be involved with. We are committed to building a workforce that better reflects the communities we serve and an inclusive culture that not only values, but finds strength in difference. We also offer a comprehensive range of benefits and discount schemes, some provided directly by the organisation and others via partnerships including Blue Light card.

Developing You

We promote a culture where your continuous professional development and learning is actively encouraged and where people have the opportunity, and responsibility, to achieve their full potential.

Vetting

All posts require a level of Police Vetting as per the National Vetting Code of Practice. The residency requirement is necessary to enable all applicants to be checked in an equitable manner. Thames Valley Police will allow applicants to apply who do not necessarily reach the criteria as long as they have proven UK residency and supporting evidence where necessary. Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

As part of our ongoing commitment to fair and transparent recruitment, we provide guidance on how AI may be used during the application and interview processes.