PCSOs liaise closely with the council so through my job there I discovered that the role really appealed to me.

Prior to working for the council, I was a TV engineer for 25 years but I didn't feel that I could make a real difference in that job like I do as a PCSO.

It was a big decision to change careers but one of the best I've ever made.

The job can be challenging as the areas you patrol can often be diverse like mine in Pill.

When I first started as a PCSO, the public were initially unsure of what our role entailed.

But we've really built a strong rapport with the local residents and are now fully accepted members of the police family.

Also, unlike regular police officers, we don't carry handcuffs and we only have limited arrest powers so we have to rely on our communication skills to diffuse volatile situations.

People now say that they feel safer as a result of what we do and this was recognised at a recent Gwent force award ceremony when Pill section was awarded Neighbourhood Policing Team of the Year.

By working closely with police officers, PCSOs can really help to tackle the issues the public are most concerned about such as crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.

No two days are the same in my role.

Recently I turned up to work thinking I was going to be involved in a specific operation, only to find that there had been a major explosion in a chemical factory on the other side of Newport to which a number of PCSOs were drafted in to help.

So if you're looking for a job where you never know what's around the corner, then becoming a PCSO could be for you.

Andrew Norman - Newport - October 2006

For more info about working as a Police Community Support Officer, check the website at www.policecouldyou.co.uk or phone 0845 600 0925

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