Police Community Support Officer - Reading

Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)

Make a difference where it matters most

Join British Transport Police as a Police Community Support Officer and play a vital role in protecting passengers, supporting communities and keeping the railway safe.

Location: Reading
Salary: £29,483.96 per year
Shift Allowance: Up to 20%, with a minimum of 15% after training
Annual Leave: 28 days, rising to 30 days with service

Why become a BTP PCSO?

Police Community Support Officers are an integral part of British Transport Police.

As a PCSO, you will provide a visible and reassuring presence across the railway network. You will engage with passengers, support railway staff, respond to local concerns and build trusted relationships with the communities we serve.

Chief Superintendent David Rams explains:

“Our PCSOs are an integral part of British Transport Police. They carry out vital work across the railway network to keep passengers and staff safe, delivering an exceptional service to our communities across England and Wales.”

The difference you will make

As a BTP PCSO, you will help prevent crime, reduce disruption, support vulnerable people and build public trust and confidence across the railway network.

No two days will be the same. You will:

• Conduct visible patrols at stations and across the rail network
• Support victims and provide reassurance to passengers, railway staff and the public
• Assist with minor investigations and intelligence gathering
• Help manage security threats and operational incidents
• Build strong relationships with communities and partner organisations
• Work alongside Police Officers and other policing colleagues
• Help identify and respond to local concerns affecting the railway

An enhanced operational role

Unlike PCSOs in many Home Office police forces, BTP PCSOs are trained and equipped with handcuffs. This reflects the distinctive operational environment in which our PCSOs work and the important contribution they make to keeping the railway safe.

What we are looking for

We are looking for people who:

• Are resilient and able to remain calm under pressure
• Can communicate confidently with people from different backgrounds
• Demonstrate excellent customer service skills
• Have strong interpersonal and relationship-building abilities
• Are committed to supporting communities and building trust
• Can use good judgement when responding to challenging situations
• Work effectively as part of a team
• Share our commitment to providing an excellent service to the public

You do not need previous policing experience to apply. We are interested in your values, motivation, transferable skills and potential to succeed in the role.

What you will receive

In return for the important work you undertake, you will receive:

• A salary of £29,483.96 per year
• A shift allowance of up to 20%, with a minimum of 15% after training
• 28 days’ annual leave, rising to 30 days with service
• Travel benefits
• Ongoing learning and professional development
• Access to in-house talent and development teams
• Career development opportunities across British Transport Police
• A defined contribution pension scheme administered by Royal London

Develop your career with BTP

A career as a Police Community Support Officer is rewarding and important in its own right.

PCSOs play a vital role in neighbourhood policing, safeguarding vulnerable people, solving problems within communities and building public trust and confidence across the railway network.

British Transport Police is committed to supporting your long-term development. You will have opportunities to broaden your knowledge, strengthen your operational skills and explore career development opportunities across the organisation.

If you later decide to pursue a career as a Police Constable, successful completion of your PCSO probationary period will also satisfy the work experience requirement for the Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP).

This is one of several possible development opportunities available to you and does not diminish the importance or professional standing of the PCSO role.

Where you could work

We are recruiting PCSOs in: Reading

Working patterns

Policing the railway requires flexibility.

You must be prepared to work shifts, including weekends and bank holidays. Further information about working patterns will be provided during the recruitment process.

Before you apply

Please review the following requirements carefully.

You will not be eligible to apply if:

• You have been unsuccessful at interview for a BTP PCSO role within the last three months
• You have been unsuccessful at the application or online testing stage for a PCSO, Police Officer or Special Constable role within the last three months
• You have failed BTP vetting within the last 24 months
• You have received a custodial or suspended sentence
• You have been dismissed from a police force or are currently under investigation
• You have a current County Court Judgment, unmanaged Individual Voluntary Arrangement or unresolved bankruptcy
• You do not have the right to work in the UK
• You have not lived continuously in the UK for the past three years
• You have tattoos that are considered offensive

Visible tattoos will be assessed individually.

Declaring previous matters

All cautions, convictions and previous police involvement must be declared as part of your application.

Declaring a previous matter does not necessarily mean that your application will be unsuccessful. Each case will be considered individually.

Your application journey

1. Online Application

Complete and submit the online application form, providing accurate information about your experience, motivation and suitability for the role.

2. Situational Judgement Test

As part of the selection process, you will complete an online Situational Judgement Test.

The assessment will consider how you are likely to respond to situations that may arise in the PCSO role.

If you are unsuccessful, you may reapply after three months.

3. Further Recruitment Stages

If you successfully complete the initial application and assessment stages, you will receive information about the next stages of the recruitment process.

5. Candidate Pool

Successful applicants will be placed in a 12-month candidate pool and considered for vacancies as they arise.

Placement in the candidate pool does not guarantee an immediate appointment or a posting at a particular location.

We encourage you to attend a Recruitment Q&A Session before applying. The session will help you understand more about the PCSO role, the working environment and the recruitment process.

Everyone is welcome at BTP

British Transport Police is committed to building a workforce where everyone feels that they belong.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences. Diversity strengthens our teams and imp