In the second of a series of articles, we introduce you to your local Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). They are members of support staff employed, directed and managed by their police force who work to complement and support regular police officers, providing a visible and accessible uniformed presence to improve the quality of life in the community and offer greater public reassurance.
I am PCSO244 Kirsty Johnson and I work in the area that we call ‘Far Beeston’ which is in fact from Cross Flatts Park up as far as the White Rose Centre and goes from Elland Road to the Parkwood and Southleigh Estates.
I have been in my current role for five years and four and a half years of that has been in my current area.
Before I joined West Yorkshire Police I was an administration supervisor for Leeds City Council for 18 months and I previously worked overseas for 10 years for various holiday companies. I was lucky enough to work in Spain, Greece, Turkey, Canary Islands, Dominican Republic and Lapland.
I really enjoy working in my current area as I find Far Beeston very diverse; it contains council estates, private houses, three primary schools and a high school, two large parks and a number of industrial estates.
I really enjoy working with the younger children at the schools and youth clubs as they seem to have more positive interaction with you throughout if they know you from being very young. One of my favourite days of the year is the cycle ride that I have done with Beeston Primary School for the last three years – the children are always so determined and well behaved, it’s a real pleasure to be invited.
I also find the people in my beat area very friendly and appreciative of the work we do. I wouldn’t like to work anywhere else!
My main project at the moment is Dogwatch which is like Neighbourhood Watch for dog walkers. It was launched on 1 July and hopefully will continue to grow as we have more interaction with this part of the community.
I am also the ‘media and marketing’ officer for my team so I am responsible for Facebook and Twitter being updated when my team are on duty.
