What is a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)?

A Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) is a uniformed member of police staff who supports crime prevention, community safety, and early intervention. While they don’t have full police powers (e.g., they don’t make arrests), they are a vital link between the police and local communities – especially in schools, neighbourhoods, and youth services.

PCSOs often have specific responsibilities around safeguarding vulnerable children and adults, including those who are neurodivergent or at risk of exploitation. The PCSO we spoke to told us this about their job:

PCSOs might:

• Visit schools or homes where concerns have been raised about a child’s safety.
• Support families experiencing domestic violence, bullying, or exploitation.
• Respond to low-level crime and anti-social behaviour.
• Help identify when a child is being misunderstood or unfairly criminalised.
• Build relationships with young people and provide preventative support.
• Educate the public on rights, risks, and community safety.

They play a unique role in helping people feel safe, heard, and supported.

PCSOs receive specialist training, which includes:

• Safeguarding and child protection.
• Mental health and trauma awareness.
• Understanding autism, PDA, and other neurodivergent profiles.
• Physical intervention and first aid.

Entry requirements vary, but many PCSOs bring a background in education, youth work, or social care. Some also work closely with specialised teams like Victim Support, the Violence Reduction Unit, or Criminal Investigations (CID).

PCSOs who understand PDA can:

• Help prevent misinterpretation of PDA-related behaviour (e.g. perceived aggression or defiance).
• Educate fellow officers on how to approach a PDAer respectfully and calmly.
• Support vulnerable young people to stay safe from harm, exploitation, or arrest.
• Provide reassurance to families who are fearful of being misunderstood by the system.
• Act as early intervention – supporting rather than criminalising.

PCSOs told us they use a range of approaches to better support PDAers:

• Reducing demands and using flexible, non-threatening communication.
• Adapting interviews or conversations to reduce sensory overwhelm or perceived threat.
• Offering choices and control wherever possible.
• Providing consistent, familiar contact, not just reactive visits.
• Advocating for more understanding of PDA within police forces.
• Viewing behaviour through a lens of anxiety, not criminal intent.

They can make a significant difference in how safe or seen a young person feels when interacting with police.

The PCSO we spoke with told us that for PDAers, contact with the police can be stressful or triggering. PCSOs:

• Help educate police colleagues and reduce misunderstandings.
• Provide preventative support before problems escalate.
• Reassure families that not all police contact is punitive.
• Offer calm, compassionate connection that makes people feel human – not judged.

They are the backbone of community policing and often the first to notice when something doesn’t feel right.

PDAers and their families often tell us how confusing and unsettling it can be to meet new professionals – especially when it’s not clear what their job is or what good support looks like. That’s why we asked professionals themselves to tell us, in their own words, what they do. You’ll find their honest, personal answers in the ‘What professionals do’ section of our site.

This is a growing resource, so if you don’t see the role you’re looking for yet, you could ask the person you’re working with to fill in this short form.

Please note: these insights come from individual professionals, not official organisations, so you might find some variation in how people describe their roles. If you’re wondering whether a service you’ve been offered is the right fit, our guides to finding helpful support can help.