Police Community Support Officer Apprenticeship (PCSO)

Merseyside Police; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading police force in the UK is hiring a Police Community Support Officer Apprentice to engage with local communities, build trust, and provide visible patrols. This role offers a competitive salary starting from £27,204, along with paid holidays and benefits. Applicants should possess GCSEs in Maths and English, and display strong communication skills. The apprenticeship aims to develop future policing professionals through practical training and mentorship, with opportunities for career progression.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Paid holidays

Local Government Pension Scheme

In-depth training

Police Blue Light Card discounts

Qualifications

• GCSE qualifications in Maths and English are mandatory.
• Functional Skills equivalent to Maths/English required.
• Interest in public service and community development.

Responsibilities

• Engage with the community to build trust and reduce crime.
• Perform visible patrols to enhance public safety.
• Provide support to vulnerable individuals.

Skills

Good communication skills

Teamwork skills

Interest in community safety

Public service orientation

Education

GCSE Grade E/2 (or above) in Maths

GCSE Grade E/2 (or above) in English Language

Functional Skills Level 1 in Maths/English

Job description

Join us as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Apprentice and take your first step into the world of policing. Merseyside Police has proudly been ranked 3rd in the Public Sector category of the UKs Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers and is the only police force to feature in The Sunday Times Top 100 list.

Applications are now open for our first PCSO apprenticeship intake, planned for April 2026.

Start Your Career in Policing with a PCSO Apprenticeship and make a real difference in your community while earning and learning.

Are you passionate about helping others? Interested in a career that’s both rewarding and impactful?

What You’ll Do

• Engage with local communities to build trust and reduce crime
• Provide visible patrols to improve public safety
• Support vulnerable individuals and respond to incidents
• Gather intelligence and assist in investigations

What You’ll Learn

• A nationally recognised qualification in community safety

Practical Policing Skills And On-the-job Experience

Personal development and career progression opportunities

What We’re Looking For

• Good communication and teamwork skills
• A genuine interest in community safety and public service

Entry Requirements

• GCSE Grade E/2 (or above) in Maths and English Language
• Functional Skills Level 1 (or above) equivalent to Maths/English Language such as Application of Number and Communication
• Adult Numeracy / Literacy Level 1 (or above)

Please ensure you upload your certificate evidence of your qualifications in Maths and English Level 1 as we will not be able to progress your application without this.

What You’ll Receive

A competitive salary while you train.

Paid holidays, benefits, and pension contributions.

Full support from mentors and trainers.

A pathway into a long‑term policing career.

• Salary: £27,204 to £29,859 plus 13.33 % equalisation allowance after training (per annum).
• Holidays: 33 days holiday, increasing with service to 38 days.
• Benefits: Local Government Pension Scheme.
• In‑depth training at our Mather Avenue Training Centre.
• Continuous Professional Development.
• Police Blue Light Card discounts and perks.
• Access to staff networks.

Our Recruitment Process

To apply for the role of PCSO, you will need to meet the minimum criteria as outlined on our PCSO information page under Eligibility Criteria. Details of the recruitment stages can be found on our PCSO information page. We are currently recruiting PCSOs to start employment in 2026.

Please provide 5 years employment/education history, explaining any gaps in employment, as part of the experience and education history section of your application form. We will use this information to obtain references upon conditional offer – with your permission.

You will be invited to complete National Sift via the College of Policing shortly after applying so please do ensure you monitor your emails and complete it in a timely manner as interviews are expected to be consistently conducted with pre‑employment checks including medical, vetting and biometrics being conducted shortly after. You will be contacted throughout the process from a DO NOT REPLY system email address but if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

Building a workforce that represents our communities is important to us. We aim to attract & keep people with the best skills & highest potential. We want to attract a diverse range of individuals into our force who might not have considered a career with us before.

We particularly welcome applications from women and black & ethnic minority candidates.

To help us achieve a workforce that represents our communities, we have a dedicated team working to encourage people from diverse communities to build their career with us. They provide support & guidance throughout the application process to candidates from under‑represented groups.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. We will work with you to ensure you have the support you need.