This page is designed to accompany the Police Officer videos found on the West Yorkshire Police website. It provides 'text alternatives' to the videos for those unable to see or hear the videos or those with assistive web technology such as screen readers.
Website Homepage - Introduction
PCSO 275 Jon Arey
"Welcome to the main West Yorkshire Police website which features press releases, crime appeals, recruitment information as well as crime reduction tips and a lot more. You will also find links to police videos on our 999TV website. For really local policing information, use the links above to find your local policing page updated by the Neighbourhood Policing Team who patrol your area. You can also subscribe for free updates via email. We hope the website proves useful, thank you for joining us".
Video FAQs
(Go to Video FAQs page)1. When I join West Yorkshire Police as a PC or PCSO where will I be posted? (PC 2341 Lyn Knight)
“All Police officers sign up to work for West Yorkshire Police they could therefore work in any of our 8 Divisions spread across the county.
Police Community Support Officers however are contracted to work in a specific Division.
However we take notice of an officer’s home address when allocating an officers initial posting. This is to primarily avoid excessive travelling and associated costs.”
2. What are the shift patterns that I will be working? (PC 2530 Damien Johnson)
“When you join West Yorkshire Police you will be attached to a Neighbourhood Policing Team, also known as a NPT and work a 'variable shift pattern' which keeps on repeating itself throughout the year.
You will basically work 7 shifts followed by either 3 or 4 days off.
Each Divisions start and finish times vary.
An early turn shift could start from anywhere between 7am and 9am, and a late turn shift could start from anywhere between 2pm and 6pm.
Each shift is of an 8hr, 9hr, or 10hr duration”
3. As a Police Officer, how is the training structured when I get to training school? (PC 6620 Sohail Akhtar)
“West Yorkshire Police run the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme also known as the IPLDP, for student police officers.
The training starts at Bishopgarth, our Training and Development Centre in Wakefield and is non residential in all but exceptional circumstances. Some elements of the programme will take place at the University of Huddersfield and out in the Community on placements; but the majority of the two years will be spent in an operational Division; part of which will be with a tutor constable who will work with you to show you how the job is done.
The programme is split into 4 phases over 2 years and will result in the award of a Foundation Degree in Police Studies on successful completion of the course. A Foundation Degree is equivalent to 2/3rds of a full degree.
Student officers are assessed against 22 National Occupational Standards and are required to build a portfolio of evidence
There is written work involved, as well as practical assessments of skills as we need to equip our students for the policing challenges facing officers in our communities today; whether that's dealing with city centre drunks on a Saturday night or addressing a local problem as part of a neighbourhood policing team."
4. What is Neighbourhood Policing? (PC 619 Dave Brook)
"The purpose of Neighbourhood Policing is to deliver the right people at the right places and in the right numbers in order to create Neighbourhoods that are safe and feel safe. Neighbourhood Policing has three requirements and these are; firstly, to provide a consistent presence of dedicated Neighbourhood Teams capable of working with the community to solve local problems; secondly, to be led by information and intelligence to identify local community concerns and to promptly and effectively target action against those concerns; finally, to jointly work with other agencies problem solving within the community, to improve the local environment and the quality of life of people who work, live, or visit those areas".
5. Who works in a Neighbourhood Policing Team? (PC 6620 Sohail Akhtar)
"There are 47 Neighbourhood Policing Teams in West Yorkshire. Each team is led by an Inspector and has two to three Sergeants, a number of Constables, PCSOs and Special Constabulary Officers.
Each team will have staff working 7 days a week, between 8am and 11pm as a minimum, but they often work later, especially at weekends.
The Neighbourhood Team may operate from a number of different buildings within their area, but mainly from Police Stations.
Officers have access to offices in council premises, hospitals and some schools.
You can find out which is your local Neighbourhood Policing Team and the details of your local officers by entering your postcode on the Home page".
6. What is the role of a Police Community Support Officer? (PCSO 275 Jon Arey)
"A Police Community Support officer works as part of a Neighbourhood Policing Team which includes other Police Officers. They contribute to the policing of neighbourhoods mainly through high visibility patrol, reassuring the public, dealing with local problems like anti-social behaviour in public places and to be contactable by local communities and partner agencies.
The priority of the role and the powers required to fulfil it are about making the public feel safer, and reducing the fear of crime. PCSOs have powers to deal with anti-social behaviour, alcohol and tobacco offences, some minor parking obstruction offences and specifically in West Yorkshire, a power to detain people for up to 30 minutes for certain offences, until a police officer arrives".
7. How is Police Community Support Officer training structured? (PCSO 963 Kelly Gillispie)
"PCSOs currently receive 7 weeks training and continual assessment on a non residential course at Bishopgarth, the Force Training and Development Centre at Wakefield. The course consists of 4 modules, including a one week non uniformed attachment to the Division that the PCSO is to be posted to, so that they can observe the different teams they will be working alongside once they have finished their training.
The remaining 6 weeks of training includes subjects such as health and safety, diversity, basic conflict management training, basic policing skills, first aid and PCSO powers. The course also includes visits by outside agencies we liaise with such as the Fire Service, Trading Standards and Mental Health specialists. The final module of the course includes assessments of students’ practical application of the law and health and safety issues through role play with actors.
At the conclusion of the initial training, PCSOs commence work at the Division they are posted to and will be tutored by an experienced officer before commencing independent patrol".
8. What is the role of a Special Constable? (SC 8964 Darren Stevens)
A Special Constable is a volunteer who before patrolling in uniform, has undergone almost six months of part-time training. They have all the powers of regular officers and they wear the same uniform. Most Specials in West Yorkshire work in Neighbourhood Policing Teams and make a significant contribution to local policing.
All Specials are expected to work a minimum of 16 hours per month, which can be done in blocks of 4 hours, or as many do, by working full tours of duty alongside their regular colleagues. Unlike regular officers, Specials do get to choose where they work and to a great extent, when to work too".
9. Can you explain a PCSO’s Power to Detain? (PCSO 275 Jon Arey)
"This is a power to require someone to remain with a PCSO for up to 30 minutes, pending the arrival of a police officer. It is a power available where a person whom the PCSO believes to have committed a relevant offence fails to provide on request a name and address, or provides one that the PCSO suspects is false or inaccurate. PCSOs in West Yorkshire can also use reasonable force to prevent someone leaving the scene".
10. Why do PCSOs and Police Officers have different uniforms and equipment? (PCSO 963 Kelly Gillispie)
All PCSOs are issued with body armour, but due to their role have no need for handcuffs, police batons or CS spray unlike regular officers. Where PCSOs need assistance, they can of course use their radio to call for Police Officers to attend".
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