page_title: Police community support officer
section_title: Operational uniform
hierarchical_section_title: Police community support officer / Uniform and equipment / Operational uniform
caption_attribution_description: Two police officers and a community support officer near Buckingham Palace, London, England. The CSO has the blue shoulder flash. Their faces have been blurred for privacy. Photographed by Adrian Pingstone in June 2005 and released to the public domain.
context_page_description: A police community support officer, or as written in legislation community support officer is a uniformed member of police staff in England and Wales, a role created by Section 38 of the Police Reform Act 2002, which was given Royal Assent by Queen Elizabeth II on 24 July 2002. They are non-warranted but provided with a variety of police powers and the power of a Constable in various instances by the forty-three territorial police forces in England and Wales and the British Transport Police.
  PCSOs were introduced in September 2002 and first recruited by the Metropolitan Police. The first ever PCSO on the streets of the UK was Barry Faust who left Belgravia Police Station, London at 6am on 7 September 2002 to deliver a car to an east London garage to be fixed. His shift left the station at 7am.
  Proposals for PCSOs in Northern Ireland were prevented by a budget shortfall in the Police Service of Northern Ireland, as well as fears that the introduction of uniformed and unarmed PCSOs in Northern Ireland would mean they would potentially then become a "legitimate target" in the eyes of the IRA who have attacked other civilians working for the police in Northern Ireland in the past.
context_section_description: Shirts for PCSOs are either white, blue or black. Originally the shirts were collared, ironed, smart and formal with two front pockets and radio loops but in recent years are being replaced in most forces with breathable shirts made to be worn with stab vests. Such new shirts unlike their predecessors are sometimes marked with "PCSO" or "police community support officer" on the sleeves or chest. North Wales Police now have the Welsh flag on both sleeves of their shirts, for both constables and PCSOs.
  Neckwear if worn is a tie for men or a cravat for women. Neckwear is normally light blue, but is sometimes black. Some police forces issue name and/or number badges to its officers to be worn on their uniforms. PCSOs in such forces have "PCSO" or "police community support officer" written before their name or number. The badge is sometimes also differently coloured from the badge of regular police officers. Trousers are usually black or dark navy blue. Originally, these were ironed, smart and formal, but in recent years are being replaced in most forces with cargo pocketed designs to allow the PCSO to carry more items.
  Body armour vests are issued to PCSOs—although originally not all forces did this—and wearing one is usually compulsory. Staffordshire Police was the last police force to issue Stab vests to PCSOs; they were only issued to officers of this force in April 2011. Some forces issue tactical vests to PCSOs that go over the body armour to provide alternative storage to a duty belt. The vest usually comes in black or hi-vis yellow.
  Most PCSOs tend to wear blue epaulettes on their shoulders, although some forces use black epaulettes. Since 2009 a few forces began embroidering names on to epaulettes. PCSOs are issued with hi-visibility jackets and waterproof coats of varying design depending on the force. Officers may also be issued with a simple tabard for traffic duties. PCSOs wear nylon duty belts with quick release buckles to hold their equipment in pouches.
  Some police forces issue shoes or boots to PCSOs, although increasingly most do not. If shoes or boots are not issued, then PCSOs wear their own, which should be black and plain in design. The same rule applies to a police constable. However, as footwear is PersonalProtective Equipment (PPE) and should be issued as such, the rule that footwear purchased by a PCSO or constable is not enforceable by any Police Force.
caption: A PCSO on duty with two police constables. Note the blue epaulettes and cap badge.
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