Police “delighted” with response from job seekers.
Would-be police workers have inundated West Midlands Police with over 70 applications a day.
Two weeks ago the second largest force in the country opened up recruitment for 50 new police community support officers (PCSOs), for the first time in three years. With over 1000 applications received, recruitment has now closed and the selection process will begin to identify the best candidates, who will then undertake a series of challenging tests, a fitness and medical assessment before a final interview to secure one of the new jobs.
Once in post the new recruits will begin a seven week intensive training programme, followed by a probationary period working on neighbourhood policing teams, alongside PCs, other PCSOs, Specials and partner agencies. This mixed team structure allows PCSOs to be at the heart of the neighbourhood dealing with issues which matter most to local people but that don’t require full policing powers.
Leading the recruitment drive is Superintendent Jo Smallwood. She said: “We are delighted with the response and the number of applications received. We are looking forward to identifying those who will best serve the communities of the West Midlands.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Bob Jones pledged his support to neighbourhood policing. He said: “PCSOs are an integral part of the local policing team. They increase visibility and increase public confidence in policing.
“When PCSOs were introduced, initial reviews actually saw crime increase in the areas they patrolled – because the additional presence and reassurance PCSOs bring meant that our communities felt more confident to come forward and report crimes.
“Over time, the better intelligence and understanding of crime in the area that PCSOs provided has led to significant crime reduction – a pattern we’ve seen across the Force. This is why I am committed to retaining PCSOs as part of neighbourhood policing and recruiting an additional fifty PCSOs to maintain their strength.”
As part of the recruitment push PSCO Ricky Gambino took to YouTube to tell would-be crime fighters the kind of work they will be involved in. After 10 years in the force he says: “It’s one of the best jobs I have ever done, it brings me great satisfaction. I work on a neighbourhood policing team which means I stay on the same area, so people get to know me and we build a strong bond to work together on issues that affect the community.”
The new PCSOs will cover neighbourhood teams in Coventry, Birmingham City Centre, Solihull, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. They are expected to be in post by March 2014.