Police support officers set for TV role (From Witney Gazette)

Police support officers set for TV role

8:00am Saturday 28th October 2006 in Witney

TELEVISION viewers will get a fly-on-the-wall look at life on the streets for PCSOs in Oxfordshire as a new series starts on ITV1 tomorrow.

The Police Community Support Officers who patrol Barton, East Oxford, Blackbird Leys and Woodstock, will be the stars of Beat: Life on the Street at 6pm on Sunday.

The PCSOs shared their shifts with a camera crew who aimed to get a real-life view on the challenges, and rewards, of their job.

Two Four television was commissioned by the Home Office to create a fly-on-the-wall documentary demonstrating both the huge variety of work done by PCSOs and the different people who have been attracted to the job.

Jacqui Harris, a PCSO in Blackbird Leys, said: "This has been a really good opportunity to show people what the job entails.

"It has been demanding - having the crew with us has involved trying to plan our activity around them - but it has been interesting and many people from Blackbird Leys have enjoyed getting involved too."

'This has been a really good opportunity to show people what the job entails'

Police Community Support Officer Jacqui Harris

Nick Gargan, Assistant Chief Constable for local policing, said: "The force was lucky to be one of only two selected to take part in this programme and, having seen some of the footage, I'm delighted with the end result.

"There are some really interesting examples of the types of situation PCSOs get involved with, varying from neighbour disputes to work in schools.

"The PCSOs involved are a real credit to the force and I think the public will be impressed to see the contribution they make to the communities in which they work."

• If you are interested in becoming a PCSO, log on at www.rewarding role.co.uk, or call 0845 600 0925.