As a PCSO Apprentice, you’ll work alongside trainers and experienced officers to: 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
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 UK’s 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:
As a PCSO Apprentice, you’ll work alongside trainers and experienced officers to:
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:
Through a structured apprenticeship programme, you’ll gain:
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
Click here for the Job Description
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 PCSO’s 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 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 email careers@merseyside.police.uk
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.