Operational partnerships - PCSO: standards, duties and deployment SOP (O38b)

1. Security protective marking

1.1. Not protectively marked.

2. Summary of changes

2.1. This standard operating procedure (SOP) has been reviewed and republished in February 2022.

3. What this procedure is about

3.1. This SOP details the procedures for:

• the standards and duties of a police community support officer (PSCO)
• the deployment of police community support officers

4. Detail the procedure

4.1. The standards of a PSCO

4.1.1 PCSOs are police staff employees (PSEs) and as such will be subject to the Kent Police disciplinary codes and practices governing PSE conduct as set out in force policy L1200.

4.1.2 PCSOs will discharge their duties to the highest standards of personal conduct, complying with the Kent standard and all other force policies and will exercise their powers with appropriate discretion, and with regard to the force fairness and equality policies.

4.1.3 The national PCSO handbook should also be considered.

4.2 Uniform

4.2.1 The PCSO is a uniformed patrol role and as such will wear the approved uniform.

4.2.2 Police community support officers will maintain a smart appearance at all times and comply with policy P06.

4.2.3 For further information on uniform entitlement and how to wear it please see the interactive uniform guide in policy P06.

4.2.4 PCSOs will be responsible for providing their own suitable black footwear.

4.2.5 Uniform will be worn at all times when on patrol in a public place unless specifically ordered otherwise by a police supervisor in accordance with a deployment under their job description and an appropriate risk assessment. PCSOs will maintain a smart appearance at all times and as far as it applies in respect of their own distinct uniform, will comply with the force policy P06, which sets out the standards for uniform and appearance for the force.

4.2.6 PCSOs who ride police issue cycles whilst on duty will be issued with the appropriate clothing and safety equipment in accordance with the necessary risk assessment and to satisfy the health and safety requirements. See force policy O45f.

4.2.7 Body armour will be worn in accordance with force policy O43m and PCSOs are to be included in the term ‘police officer’.

4.2.8 PCSOs are only empowered when wearing the approved uniform.

4.2.9 In addition to the headgear outlined above, the force has also permitted the wearing of Kent Police issued black thermal fleece hats. These items are only for use in severe weather conditions. The conditions for use of this equipment are as follows:

• only thermal fleece hats issued by Kent Police will be worn
• Kent Police issued thermal fleece hats will be only be worn whilst undertaking external operational duties
• the decision to authorise officers/staff to wear thermal fleece hats will be made at inspector level or above (PSE equivalent for crime scene investigators). The decision to authorise must be continually reviewed and revoked at the appropriate time when conditions approve

4.3 Badging

4.3.1 Distinctive badging distinguishing PCSOs from police officers has been incorporated into their approved uniform. These badges are fixed to and part of the uniform garments.

4.3.2 Any changes to or request for additional items of uniform or equipment will be referred to the Equipment Review Group.

4.4 Operational deployment

4.4.1 PCSOs will be deployed in accordance with the force generic role requirement, PCSO Grade D (role code SDV043) and problem-solving task force PCSO (team leader) Grade E (role code SDV042), together with the detailed operational guidance for their specific role deployment agreed by the local partnership where applicable. Local arrangements should be made with funding partners regarding type, frequency, and content of feedback reports to such partners.

5. Deployment principles and risk assessment

5.5.1 Kent PCSOs have not been authorised to carry officer safety equipment i.e., PAVA, ASP baton or handcuffs. They have no statutory power of arrest beyond that of a person other than a constable, as amended by Section 110 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, which took effect from 1 January 2005. All deployments must therefore be made in accordance with the deployment principles set out at 5.6 and risk assessments and rules of engagement at 5.8 below.

5.5.2 Community Safety Unit sergeants should ensure that local elements of the generic risk assessment or any additional requirements of the local operational guidance have been completed. They should also ensure that in the event of a PCSO being categorised as a ‘lone worker’, all relevant procedures are in place to ensure the health and safety of that individual.

5.5.3 All PCSOs must equally be aware of, and operate within, the policy laid down by these documents, and in the discharge of their duties assess risks and act appropriately within the limits of their training, powers, and rules of engagement.

5.6 Deployment principles

5.6.1 The PCSO contribution to the control strategy and anti-social behaviour will be through visible foot patrol, community engagement, intelligence and evidence gathering and appropriate enforcement of PCSO powers.

5.6.2. There is an expectation that PCSO's should spend the majority of their duty time within neighbourhoods engaging with their community, and not be office/police station bound and/or completing administrative functions or responding purely to meet demand.

The patrol to which a PCSO is assigned will be risk assessed from available intelligence relating to geographic and demographic considerations including:

• the level and nature of criminal activity
• the risk of unprovoked assault
• environmental hazards
• community tensions

An assessment of threat, risk or harm to the officer, a member of the public or general public safety.

5.6.3 PCSOs will not be deployed to a high-risk incident by the force control room or division. High risk incidents are defined as:

• where an offender is known to be present at the scene and has either been detained or it is clear from the allegations may be subject of arrest on police arrival
• where a breach of the peace is occurring
• where operational information or intelligence concerning the venue or participants of the incident indicates that a high level of risk exists
• where it is clear from the nature of the incident that a high level of risk exists
• whilst performing visible foot patrol, PCSOs may be alerted to, or discover, a wide range of incidents; they must assess these in accordance with the limitations of their powers, training, and equipment, and if they consider the incident to be high risk they will observe to gather evidence and seek support
• wherever there is a clear likelihood that a confrontation has arisen or will arise
• where a policing incident directly links to the need for undertaking a priority, serious or complex investigation
• where police action is likely to lead to a higher-than-normal risk of harm to anyone

Deployment criteria held by the FCIR will assist in assessing suitability of call types which PCSOs can be deployed to. 

5.6.4 Where a PCSO has intervened either to a directed incident or a situation discovered whilst on patrol which initially appeared low to medium risk, they will continually monitor the situation and should it turn into a higher risk situation, they will disengage, observe to gather evidence, and seek support.

5.6.5 PCSOs should not be routinely deployed on mobile patrol. They will use police vehicles as a means of transport from their home station to the location where they are to carry out their foot patrol or other non- response duties. Additionally, they may use the vehicle during their operational deployment to drive to alternative locations for further foot patrol, when policing a wide rural area or as directed by the force control room in response to operational need.

5.6.6 Any police operation where PCSOs are to act in support of police officers will be risk assessed and due consideration will be given to the suitability of the PCSOs’ involvement.

5.6.7 PCSOs will at all times comply with the rules of engagement issued to them.

5.7 Designation cards

5.7.1 PCSOs will be issued with a designation card setting out their powers, a description of the uniform, which must be worn when executing their enforcement powers, their rules of engagement and a risk assessment process by which they will evaluate appropriate action in the discharge of their duties.

5.7.2 These designation cards will be issued on successful completion of their initial training. They must be carried at all times when on duty and must be produced to a member of the public on request.

5.8 Rules of engagement

5.8.1 The rules of engagement govern all interventions (including the exercise of powers and draw on risk assessments. Initial deployment will be risk assessed within a framework of guidance, as set out by Kent Police. PCSOs will then carry out a further dynamic risk assessment, where appropriate.

5.8.2 The decision by a PCSO to withdraw, observe and report is a valid tactical option and will be supported by managers.

5.8.3 There is no positive duty for PCSOs to intervene - they are police staff, not police officers.

5.8.4 As a representative of a public authority, a PCSO's actions will support the human rights of individuals. Actions will be justified, authorised, proportionate, auditable and necessary (JAPAN).

5.9 Enforcement powers

5.9.1 PCSOs are designated certain powers of enforcement by the chief constable under the authority granted to him by virtue of the Police Reform Act 2002.

5.9.2 PCSOs will discharge their duties with due consideration of the impact of their actions upon individuals and communities, and in compliance with the force’s diversity policies. They will at all times act within their levels of authority, training, and force policy in carrying out their duties.

5.10 Use of police vehicles

5.10.1 PCSOs will be authorised to drive police vehicles including marked vehicles following an authorisation test in order to travel between places of duty and their designated patrol area/s in accordance with force policy O45. They will use police vehicles as a means of transport from their home station to the location where they are to carry out their foot patrol or other non- response duties. Additionally, they may use the vehicle during their operational deployment to drive to alternative locations for further foot patrol, when policing a wide rural area or as directed by the force control room in response to operational need. Blue lights or two-tone horns will not be used unless to protect the scene of a road traffic collision when directed to do so by a police supervisor for road safety purposes.

5.10.2 Where a division receives a sponsorship vehicle or otherwise acquires a vehicle for the primary use of a PCSO it will be marked up in half Battenberg police livery for reassurance purposes.

5.11 Use of public transport

5.11.1 An agreement has been reached with bus companies across Kent and Medway for PCSOs whilst on duty in uniform to travel free of charge. (See Public Transport policy P01d)

6. Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)

6.1. This policy has been assessed with regard to its impact on race and diversity equality. As a result of this assessment, the policy has been graded as having a high potential impact.

7. Monitoring and review

7.1 This SOP will next be reviewed in February 2024.

8. Security

8.1. Kent Police have measures in place to protect the security of your data in accordance with our Information Management policy (Policy W1000 – Information Management).

9. Retention and disposal of records

9.1. Kent Police will hold data in accordance with our Records Review, Retention and Disposal policy (Policy W1012 – Records Review, Retention and Disposal).