Blackstone's PCSO Handbook

by Caless, Bryn; Bryant, Robin; Spruce, Barry; Underwood, Robert

• ISBN13: 9780199580224
• ISBN10: 0199580227
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-03-26
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This new edition of the successful Blackstone's PCSO Handbook provides up-to- date and comprehensive coverage of the role and functions of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). PCSOs support regular police officers and work within a targeted patrol area to provide a visible and accessible uniformed presence. They work with partners and community organizations to address anti-social behaviour, the fear of crime, environmental issues and other factors which affect thequality of people's lives. The role of the PCSO has been subject to a great deal of change in recent years. Blackstone's PCSO Handbook consolidates all the relevant information into one portable volume. This new edition outlines the standardised PCSO powers, the Policing Pledge and the new Police Conduct regulations. Itoffers new content on problem-solving techniques, community partnerships and the PACT process, as well as updates on the relevant law and PACE Code of Practice. Topics such as human rights, diversity, health and safety, evidence and procedure and general duties are all covered. PCSOs can use the book as a reference to find information on tasks such as crime scene management, cautions, evidence gathering, attending court and pocket notebook protocol.Throughout the book, case scenarios, flow charts, checklists and good practice sections are used to illustrate and clarify the information. The updated key National Occupational Standards relevant to PCSOs are discussed and explained and so PCSOs can ensure that they achieve these targets effectively. The book also looks at the historical background of PCSOs and how the PCSO role fits with the rapidly changing face of policing. This is a highly practical and portable handbook, ideal for PCSOs to carry on the beat and for PCSO trainers and other police officers.

Author Biography

Dr. Bryn Caless is the former Head of HR for Kent Police and Director of Kent Police College. With Dr Robin Bryant he oversaw the introduction of the Kent Student Officer Programme in 2005 as part of IPLDP. He is a contributor to Blackstone's Student Police Officer Handbook.
Dr. Robin Bryant is Head of the Department for Crime and Policing Studies at Canterbury Christ Church University and was responsible for implementing the first college-based police training model in the UK with Kent Police. He is editor of Blackstone's Student Police Officer Handbook.
Barry Spruce has been variously a schoolteacher, a PCSO, a PCSO and Neighbourhood Policing trainer. He is now the Head of the Extended Policing Family, including PCSOs and the Special Constabulary, for Kent Police. Robert Underwood is a former Kent Police Officer attached to Canterbury Christ Church University as part of the teaching staff on the Kent Student Officer Programme. Together with colleagues from both organizations he was responsible for the design of the Foundation Degree in Policing which forms the basis of initial police training and education in Kent. He is a contributor to Blackstone's Student Police Officer Handbook.