Will AI replace Police community support officers?

Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 51 official task statements scored for Police community support officers (United Kingdom, SOC 6311), 2% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 13 out of 100 (range 9–19, band: minimal). That is a statement about tasks, not about headcount: this measures what AI could do, not whether any employer adopts it, whether the law allows it, or whether doing the routine parts faster creates more demand for the human parts. Figures are from release 2026-q4.1.

Which tasks in “Police community support officers” can AI already do?

The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Use social media communication to encourage community engagement” (70/100, high); “Provide road information to assist motorists” (53/100, partial); “Document accidents or incidents occurring on duty for safety and compliance records” (49/100, partial). Each score comes from five published 0–4 ratings turned into a number by a published formula, and each carries the model's one-sentence reason on the page.

Which tasks in “Police community support officers” stay human?

About 93% of this job's task weight sits in work that scores low for AI exposure. The lowest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Question individuals entering secured areas to determine their business, directing and rerouting individuals as necessary” (0/100, minimal); “Patrol work areas to detect any suspicious items” (0/100, minimal); “Patrol interior and exterior of courthouse to provide security” (0/100, minimal). Low scores usually mean the task needs a body in a room, a legally accountable human, or trust built in real time. Those are the three things the scoring rubric treats as gates rather than obstacles.

What should someone working in “Police community support officers” do about AI?

Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 2% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 93% is not. The practical move is to spend more of your week on the tasks that score low, the ones above, and to get fluent at directing AI through the tasks that score high, because those are the parts that change whether or not you are ready for them. This page does not predict your job, and nothing here is career advice tailored to you: the score describes the occupation, not the person.

How is the AI exposure score for Police community support officers calculated?

Each official task statement for the occupation is rated on five published 0–4 dimensions (output replicability, physical embodiment, licensed accountability, real-time human trust, and data availability) by claude-opus-5 using scoring prompt task_scoring_v1.0. The model never writes the score; a published formula turns the five ratings into a 0–100 number, so every score can be recomputed by hand. The occupation figure is the importance-weighted mean across 51 scored tasks. The prompt, the rubric, the formula and the full dataset are published at https://futureproof.collab365.com/method and https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1 under CC BY 4.0.

UK dataswitch to US

Police community support officers

detaining suspects until a police officer arrives, preserving and protecting crime scenes and documenting accidents or incidents occurring on duty for safety and compliance records. If that's your week, this page is about your job.

The honest answer

AI changes the edges of this job, not the middle: detaining suspects until a police officer arrives is work software can't reach.

Your move: what you can actually do about this ↓

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI: 2%
changing shape: 5%
staying human: 93%

These bars are tasks changing hands, not people being counted out. The ledger below shows which.

Whole-job exposure score 13 out of 100 (9–19 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, across 51 scored tasks. The number is the support for the sentence above it, not a headline about anyone’s future.

How we know this

What is measured: Every published task statement for police community support officers is rated on five dimensions: can a model produce the output, does the work need a body in a room, does it need a legally accountable person, does it depend on a person being trusted in the moment, and how much data exists. A published formula turns those five ratings into the score; the model never writes the number.

How the bar is built: Each task’s share of the bar is its published importance weight, so a task you do all day counts for more than one you do twice a year.

Release: 2026-q4.1, scores computed 2026-08-04. Read the full method.

What shifts is using social media communication to encourage community engagement: the paper around the work, not the work.

Your week, as this page understands it

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) support the local police force by patrolling the streets to provide a visible and reassuring presence and to tackle a range of crime and disorder problems. PCSOs are also attached to the British Transport Police who operate the specialised police service for the railway network across Britain. The job title says “police community support officers”. The real job is the part underneath: detaining suspects until a police officer arrives. That is the thing someone has to be right about.

The exposed part of this job is specific, and we won’t pretend it is coming back. But police community support officers is not one task. It is 51 scored ones, and they are nowhere near equally exposed. The most durable of them, on this evidence, is detaining suspects until a police officer arrives, and the ledger below shows exactly why.

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI: 2%
changing shape: 5%
staying human: 93%

These bars are tasks changing hands, not people being counted out. The ledger below shows which.

How we know this

How the bar is built: Each task’s share of the bar is its published importance weight, so a task you do all day counts for more than one you do twice a year.

Release: 2026-q4.1, scores computed 2026-08-04. Read the full method.

Your job, task by task

These are the official task statements for this occupation, in plain English, sorted by what the evidence says is happening to each one. The official wording sits under every line so you can check the rewrite against it.

2 rows are marked low confidence, so treat them as a ballpark rather than a fine measurement.
13 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.

Shifting to AI

1 task

Tasks today’s tools can already do most of. This is the part we will not soften: where these rows are the bulk of your week, the week changes.

Using social media communication to encourage community engagement
This is reading one thing and writing another: social media communication in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 60 · 6311/00
Source: “Use social media communication to encourage community engagement.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 70 out of 100 (63–77 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Writing and scheduling social posts is well-documented screen work that software does quickly, with an officer checking tone and accuracy.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 4/4.

Changing shape

3 tasks

Tasks where the machine takes the producing and a person keeps the checking, the deciding, or the answering-for-it. For most jobs this is the biggest group, and it is where "transformation, not termination" is literally visible.

Documenting accidents or incidents occurring on duty for safety and compliance records
The software now makes the first pass at accidents, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Document accidents or incidents occurring on duty for safety and compliance records.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 49 out of 100 (42–56 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Writing up accidents and incidents into safety and compliance records is structured document work software handles well.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Relaying complaint and emergency-request information to appropriate agency dispatchers
The software now makes the first pass at complaint, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Relay complaint and emergency-request information to appropriate agency dispatchers.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 42 out of 100 (35–49 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Passing incident details on to the right dispatcher is message handling that software routes reliably.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Providing road information to assist motorists
The software now makes the first pass at road information, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 60 · 6311/00
Source: “Provide road information to assist motorists.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 53 out of 100 (49–57 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Road and route information is published and abundant, so software answers most of these questions well.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 4/4.

Staying human

47 tasks

Tasks that stay with a person, because they happen in the physical world, because the rules need someone accountable, or because the value is that a specific person does them.

Detaining suspects until a police officer arrives
This work happens in the physical world: suspects until a police officer arrives, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6311/00
Source: “Detain suspects until a police officer arrives.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Holding someone until police arrive is physical presence, and only a person can do it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Enforcing laws, maintain order and arrest violators in assigned areas
This work happens in the physical world: laws, maintain order and arrest violators, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6311/00
Source: “Enforce laws, maintain order, and arrest violators in assigned areas.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Keeping order and stopping people in the street is entirely about being there in person.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Maintaining a visible and uniformed presence in the community
This work happens in the physical world: a visible, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6311/00
Source: “Maintain a visible and uniformed presence in the community.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: The whole point is a recognisable person in uniform being seen on the street, which nothing on a screen replaces.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Providing crime prevention advice to the community
The value here is that a specific person handles crime prevention advice and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.
importance 80 · 6311/00
Source: “Provide crime prevention advice to the community.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 39 out of 100 (32–46 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Crime prevention advice is well documented and easy to generate, though people trust it more coming from a familiar officer.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Gathering and recording intelligence for community safety and crime reduction
The ratings behind this row put intelligence well outside what today's tools can do on their own.
importance 80 · 6311/00
Source: “Gather and record intelligence for community safety and crime reduction.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 28 out of 100 (21–35 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Collating and recording intelligence suits software well; the information itself comes from officers talking to people on the ground.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Monitoring traffic to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations and exhibit safe driving procedures
This work happens in the physical world: traffic, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6311/00
Source: “Monitor traffic to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations and exhibit safe driving procedures.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 25 out of 100 (18–32 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Cameras and software already watch traffic well, though an officer on the street sees things no fixed camera does.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

Show the other 41 tasks

Informing citizens of community services and recommending options to facilitate longer-term problem resolution
staying human
The value here is that a specific person handles citizens of community services and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Inform citizens of community services and recommend options to facilitate longer-term problem resolution.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 39 out of 100 (32–46 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Details of local services are documented and easy to look up and explain, so software can do most of this.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Informing patrol units to provide needed assistance or medical aid
staying human
The ratings behind this row put patrol units well outside what today's tools can do on their own.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Inform patrol units to provide needed assistance or medical aid.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 32 out of 100 (25–39 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Passing on what help is needed is short, structured messaging, though the officer at the scene supplies the facts.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Managing projects aimed at addressing issues
staying human
The value here is that a specific person handles projects and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.
importance 60 · 6311/00
Source: “Manage projects aimed at addressing issues such as health, bullying, crime, and drug use.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 30 out of 100 (23–37 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Planning documents, funding bids and progress reports can be drafted quickly, though running the project needs local relationships.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Gathering specific details related to reported incidents for further investigation
staying human
The ratings behind this row put specific details well outside what today's tools can do on their own.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Gather specific details related to reported incidents for further investigation.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 28 out of 100 (21–35 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Software can structure and summarise the details, but getting them from people at the scene is done by an officer.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Managing antisocial behaviour orders and collecting relevant information
staying human
The ratings behind this row put antisocial behaviour orders well outside what today's tools can do on their own.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Manage antisocial behaviour orders and collect relevant information.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 28 out of 100 (21–35 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Case records and applications are well suited to software, though the evidence behind an order is gathered by officers in the community.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Promoting community cohesion through targeted initiatives and programmes
staying human
The value here is that a specific person handles community cohesion and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Promote community cohesion through targeted initiatives and programmes.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 26 out of 100 (19–33 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Community cohesion work is built on local relationships that take time to form.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Planning, applying and evaluating different policing approaches alongside partner organizations or as part of a multi-disciplinary team to address identified, often complex, issues, concerns and situations to reduce and prevent crime in communities, utilizing collaborative tools and technology
staying human
The value here is that a specific person handles different policing approaches alongside partner organizations and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Plan, apply and evaluate different policing approaches alongside partner organizations or as part of a multi-disciplinary team to address identified, often complex, issues, concerns and situations to reduce and prevent crime in communities, utilizing collaborative tools and technology.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 23 out of 100 (16–30 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Software can draft plans and evaluate what worked, but partnership problem-solving depends on local knowledge and relationships built face to face.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Resolving workplace conflicts to promote a harmonious environment
staying human
The value here is that a specific person handles workplace conflicts and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.
importance 50 · 6311/00
Source: “Resolve workplace conflicts to promote a harmonious environment.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 18 out of 100 (11–25 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Conflicts between colleagues are settled by talking them through with the people involved, which software cannot do.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Collaborating with partner agencies to achieve best outcomes
staying human
The value here is that a specific person handles partner agencies and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Collaborate with partner agencies to achieve best outcomes.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 17 out of 100 (10–24 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Joint working with partner agencies runs on established professional relationships rather than documents.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Supporting communities in addressing non-crime-related issues and concerns
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: communities, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Support communities in addressing non-crime-related issues and concerns.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 14 out of 100 (7–21 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Software can suggest options, but community concerns get resolved through people who are known and trusted locally.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Communicating effectively with individuals, groups and organizations in the community
staying human
The value here is that a specific person handles individuals, groups and organizations and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.
importance 80 · 6311/00
Source: “Communicate effectively with individuals, groups, and organizations in the community.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 13 out of 100 (6–20 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Community confidence is built by a recognisable person turning up and talking to people, not by messages a machine writes.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Establishing and maintaining connections with businesses and community leaders
staying human
The value here is that a specific person handles connections and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Establish and maintain connections with businesses and community leaders.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 13 out of 100 (6–20 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Software can draft the outreach, but lasting relationships with shopkeepers and community leaders are built by the same person turning up.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Providing pre-sentence reports for courts on individuals charged with an offence
staying human
The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for pre-sentence reports, and that person cannot be a piece of software.
importance 60 · 6311/00
Source: “Provide pre-sentence reports for courts on individuals charged with an offence, helping them to decide what sentence should be passed.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 13 out of 100 (6–20 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: The law says a pre-sentence report must come from an appointed officer, so a machine cannot produce one for a court.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 4/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Investigating accidents to identify causes and prevent future occurrences
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: accidents, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Investigate accidents to identify causes and prevent future occurrences.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 12 out of 100 (5–19 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Analysis and the written report suit software, but examining the scene and speaking to those involved is done in person.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Enforcing road traffic legislation and issuing fixed penalty notices for relevant offences
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: road traffic legislation, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6311/00
Source: “Enforce road traffic legislation and issue fixed penalty notices for relevant offences.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 11 out of 100 (4–18 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Only a designated officer may issue these notices, and enforcing on the road means being there to see the offence.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Issuing fixed penalty notices for specific offences as per local regulations
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: fixed penalty notices, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6311/00
Source: “Issue fixed penalty notices for specific offences as per local regulations.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 11 out of 100 (4–18 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Only a designated officer may issue these notices, and the officer has to be present to see the offence and serve it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Determining if a crime has been committed in accidents
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: if a crime, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Determine if a crime has been committed in accidents.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 10 out of 100 (3–17 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Deciding whether a crash involved an offence rests on evidence gathered at the scene and on judgement about the law.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Collaborating with neighbourhood wardens and community action teams to address anti-social behaviour
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: neighbourhood wardens, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6311/00
Source: “Collaborate with neighbourhood wardens and community action teams to address anti-social behaviour.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 9 out of 100 (5–13 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Tackling anti-social behaviour with wardens and community teams runs on working relationships on the ground.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Identifying suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: suspects, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6311/00
Source: “Identify suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 8 out of 100 (1–15 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Cameras and records help, but working out who did something usually rests on local knowledge and what officers saw.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Processing detainees during booking and pre-trial process
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: detainees, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Process detainees during booking and pre-trial process.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 7 out of 100 (0–14 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Custody paperwork can be largely automated, but detainees have to be handled in person by staff with legal authority.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Interviewing suspects to obtain crime-related information
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: suspects, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6311/00
Source: “Interview suspects to obtain crime-related information.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 6 out of 100 (0–18 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, low confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Only a warranted officer may question a suspect under caution, and the interview itself depends on live judgement in the room.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Providing initial support and assessing needs of vulnerable people in the community
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: initial support, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Provide initial support and assess needs of vulnerable people in the community.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 3 out of 100 (0–10 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Helping a vulnerable person starts with sitting with them and earning enough trust to learn what is wrong.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Providing support to people directly or indirectly involved in operational incidents
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: support, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Provide support to people directly or indirectly involved in operational incidents.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 3 out of 100 (0–10 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Supporting people caught up in an incident depends on a person being with them at a very hard moment.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Giving evidence in court in traffic and criminal cases
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: evidence, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6311/00
Source: “Give evidence in court in traffic and criminal cases.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 1 out of 100 (0–5 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Only the person who saw what happened can be sworn in and questioned about it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 4/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Establishing and maintaining relationships with young people
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: relationships, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Establish and maintain relationships with young people.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 1 out of 100 (0–5 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: The relationship with young people is the work itself.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 4/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Directing traffic flow
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: traffic flow, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6311/00
Source: “Direct traffic flow.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Directing traffic requires a person in the road.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Investigating unusual or illegal activity in patrol area
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: unusual, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6311/00
Source: “Investigate unusual or illegal activity in patrol area.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–7 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Looking into odd activity on a patrol patch means walking the streets and speaking to people there.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Maintaining order and responding to emergencies to ensure public safety
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: order, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6311/00
Source: “Maintain order and respond to emergencies to ensure public safety.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Turning up and taking charge at an incident is presence work that software cannot do.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Performing patrol duties by car and bicycle to monitor assigned areas
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: patrol duties, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6311/00
Source: “Perform patrol duties by car and bicycle to monitor assigned areas.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Patrolling by car or bicycle is physical presence in an area; there is no way to do it remotely.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Preserving and protecting crime scenes
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: crime scenes, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6311/00
Source: “Preserve and protect crime scenes.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Guarding a crime scene means physically standing there and keeping people out.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Gathering intelligence during home visits
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: intelligence during home visits, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Gather intelligence during home visits.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Picking up information on doorsteps depends on being there and on people choosing to talk.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Measuring and sketching crime scenes to document evidence
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: crime scenes, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Measure and sketch crime scenes to document evidence.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Measuring and sketching a scene means being in it with a tape measure.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Placing people in protective custody
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: people, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Place people in protective custody.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Taking someone into protective custody is a physical act carried out by a person with legal powers.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 4/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Providing support at large public gatherings
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: support, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Provide support at large public gatherings, such as sports events and public demonstrations.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Providing a presence at a crowd event is exactly that, being there among people.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Rerouting traffic in case of emergencies
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: traffic, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Reroute traffic in case of emergencies.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Turning traffic away at an incident means standing in the road doing it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Visiting schools to interact with pupils
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: schools, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6311/00
Source: “Visit schools to interact with pupils.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Going into a school to talk with pupils is about being in the room with them.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Conducting home visits for high-risk individuals to monitor progress and assess needs
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: home visits, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 6311/00
Source: “Conduct home visits for high-risk individuals to monitor progress and assess needs.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–12 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, low confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: A home visit is exactly that, being in someone's home, and the trust it builds cannot be produced remotely.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Examining injured persons to assess their condition
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: injured persons, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 6311/00
Source: “Examine injured persons to assess their condition.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Checking how badly someone is hurt means looking at and touching the person, which needs someone there.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Patrolling interior and exterior of courthouse to provide security
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: interior, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 6311/00
Source: “Patrol interior and exterior of courthouse to provide security.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Walking round a courthouse to keep it secure is physical presence work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Patrolling work areas to detect any suspicious items
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: work areas, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 6311/00
Source: “Patrol work areas to detect any suspicious items.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Spotting suspicious items means physically walking the area and looking.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Questioning individuals entering secured areas to determine their business
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: individuals entering secured areas, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 6311/00
Source: “Question individuals entering secured areas to determine their business, directing and rerouting individuals as necessary.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Stopping and questioning people at an entrance means standing there in person.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

What this job pays, and how many people do it

Median pay: £35,700a year, before tax, the middle of the range, so half earn more and half earn less.ashe-t14, 2025 · ASHE 2025 provisional (reference April 2025)Provisional, because the ONS revises this figure in the autumn.
How we know this
Source: ashe-t14
Reference period: ASHE 2025 provisional (reference April 2025)
Rounding: Shown to the nearest £100. The exact published figure is in the downloadable dataset. We do not render pounds the survey cannot support.
People doing this job: 11,800in the UK, 2026.nomis-aps · Apr 2025-Mar 2026 (latest APS 12-month period)This headcount comes from a survey, not a census, so treat it as a good estimate rather than an exact count.

What is deliberately not here: a forecast of how many of these jobs exist in ten years. Where an official projection exists for a market we publish it with its vintage; where it does not, we leave the space empty rather than borrow the other country’s number.

Why this is shifting

The reason is boringly specific. Most of what is shifting here is reading one thing and writing another: social media communication in, a record out. The rows above are exactly that shape: using social media communication to encourage community engagement and documenting accidents or incidents occurring on duty for safety and compliance records. What it cannot do is be answerable: suspects until a police officer arrives need a named person the rules will accept, and software cannot be that person. Which is why this page talks about your tasks changing, not your job ending.

Your move

Over a pint: what I’d tell you if you were my friend

Start with what does not change: detaining suspects until a police officer arrives is the middle of this job, and the evidence on this page says it stays with a person.

So, given all that: 2% of this job's task weight sits in rows the software is already learning, 5% in rows that change shape rather than disappear, and 93% in rows it is nowhere near. That is the position, measured across 51 scored tasks. It is not a forecast about you.

So the thing worth your attention is not the job going away. It is the layer around it. Using social media communication to encourage community engagement is the part turning into software, and being the person who understands that layer is worth money.

This week: one thing

Ask the one question. Find whoever is bringing new software into your workplace (the manager, the office, whoever runs the system) and ask them what it is meant to do to social media communication, and what it is not meant to touch. Ten minutes, this week, before anyone decides it for you.

What you end up holding: a straight answer about what is actually being rolled out, and when
How long it takes: ten minutes

If there’s nobody obvious to ask, or you’d rather not ask your manager: Put the same question to your union rep, your shift lead or the person who has been there longest, in person, over a break. Same ten minutes, same answer, and you will usually get a straighter one. Write down what they say. The note is the artifact, and it tells you whether suspects until a police officer arrives are in scope or not. Nothing to log into, no licence needed.

Over the next 90 days

Get inside the tool rollout rather than waiting for it. Over the next ninety days, ask to be in the group that tests, checks or signs off whatever new system arrives near documenting accidents or incidents occurring on duty for safety and compliance records. It is usually an unglamorous seat that nobody fights for, and it is the one that decides how the software is used on your job rather than to it.

Over the next 12 months

On this evidence I would not retrain out of this job, and I will say that plainly rather than hedge it. The task list here is dominated by work that stays with a person. What I would do with a year is get formally recognised for the layer around it (the systems, the compliance, the planning), so you are the one who understands the software instead of the one it is done to. Before you pay for anything, spend an hour with National Careers Service. It is free and government-funded, and it is listed below with the rest of the free routes.

The roads out of here, and why I am not sending you down them

I looked at the obvious moves out of this job, and here is what I found.

I checked the 12 nearest UK occupations to police community support officers (nearest by the work that AI is not taking, not by job title), and none of them survived. The closest was police officers (sergeant and below): only about 18% of its durable work is work you already do. And on the numbers you do not need one. This job scores 13/100 here, with only 2% of the task list in the top band, and “detain suspects until a police officer arrives” is not work that hands over cleanly. None of them beats deepening what you already have.

How that was checked: this job was compared against all 412 UK occupations in this release on their official task statements, and the 12 nearest were examined one by one. A move that turns on an industry, an employer or a qualification rather than on the work itself will not show up in a check like that. And this release carries no licence register, so anything you are weighing needs that looked up separately.

3 moves I checked and rejected

These are the obvious-looking jumps. They are here with their reasons rather than quietly dropped, because the ones that fail are worth knowing about. It is one less thing to turn over at night.

Police officers (sergeant and below)
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “interview suspects to obtain crime-related information”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 18% of the work in that job the software is not taking.
Why I am not recommending it: You would be starting most of it from nothing: about 18% of the durable work in that job is work you do today, and the rest you would be learning while the bills carried on. This release publishes no median pay for that job, so I cannot show you what the move costs or pays. I do not recommend a move I cannot price.
Look at that job’s page anyway →
Parking and civil enforcement occupations
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “collaborate with neighbourhood wardens and community action teams to address anti-social behaviour”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 13% of the work in that job the software is not taking.
Why I am not recommending it: You would be starting most of it from nothing: about 13% of the durable work in that job is work you do today, and the rest you would be learning while the bills carried on. It is a pay cut, in those words: £29,559 against your £35,748, 17.3% less (ASHE Table 14.7a, 2025 provisional (both)). Retraining to earn less is a decision, not advice.
Look at that job’s page anyway →
Youth work professionals
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “establish and maintain relationships with young people”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 12% of the work in that job the software is not taking.
Why I am not recommending it: You would be starting most of it from nothing: about 12% of the durable work in that job is work you do today, and the rest you would be learning while the bills carried on.
Look at that job’s page anyway →

What I’d stop worrying about

A friend tells you what not to spend fear on. This is that list.

The headline number you read somewhere
The big “X% of jobs” figures are about the whole economy, not about you. The number that describes your job is on this page: 2% of its task weight, across 51 scored tasks. Every row behind it is printed above with the source. Check ours; ignore theirs.
The headlines about your trade disappearing
They are usually about the technology, not the timetable. Changes to work like detaining suspects until a police officer arrives arrive through rules, insurance and money, slowly and visibly. This page tracks the task evidence and will move when it moves.
Retraining out of a job that is holding up
On this evidence I would not spend money leaving. Spend it on the layer around the job instead: the tools, the paperwork, the planning. That is where the change actually is.
The “obvious” next job everyone suggests
I checked the obvious moves and most of them did not survive. The reasons are printed with the routes above, including the pay and the gate. A move that fails on the numbers is worth knowing about so you can stop turning it over at night.

You are reading the United Kingdom figures

The United States splits this work across more than one official group, of which First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers is the closest. The pay and employment figures are not directly comparable, and we do not average them together.

Switch to the United States page →partial match

The other groups this work is counted across:

In US official statistics this job is counted as First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers, First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other, Fish and Game Wardens, Parking Enforcement Workers, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, Animal Control Workers, Crossing Guards and Flaggers, Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers, School Bus Monitors, Protective Service Workers, All Other and Public Safety Telecommunicators. Pay is shown separately for each of those groups (medians cannot be averaged together), while the task list and the scores on this page are for this group only.

Your route through this

Where to go next, and what it costs

Free, and complete

The moves above cost nothing. These are the real services that go with them: public, government-funded, and free at the point of use. Nothing on this page is behind an email address or a payment.

In England:
National Careers Service
A free hour with a government-funded careers adviser is worth more than another evening of reading. In England that's the National Careers Service.
Free, government-funded
- Discover your skills and careers (the skills assessment)
In England:
National Careers Service - Find a course
Search what's actually running near you before you spend anything.
Free to search; individual courses vary
In England:
Free courses for jobs (Level 3 qualifications)
A free Level 3 qualification you already qualify for beats a paid course you don't need.
Free for eligible adults
In England:
Skills Bootcamps
Free, up to 16 weeks, and you get a job interview at the end. In England these are Skills Bootcamps - search what's running near you.
Free for eligible adults in England
- Skills Bootcamps - what they are and who can do them (DfE, Skills for Careers)
- Skills Bootcamps - JobHelp (DWP)
In Scotland:
My World of Work (Skills Development Scotland)
In Scotland it's My World of Work, from Skills Development Scotland.
Free, publicly funded
- Skills Development Scotland
In Wales:
Careers Wales
In Wales it's Careers Wales.
Free, Welsh Government-funded
In Northern Ireland:
Careers Service Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland it's the Careers Service on nidirect.
Free, Department for the Economy-funded

Why there is no community here

Collab365, who build this site, run paid Spaces for a small number of subjects, and none of them is built for this job. We are not going to point you at the nearest one and call it a fit.

So the free services listed on this page are the whole answer, and it is the same answer we would give a friend.

Noted, and thank you. We’ll email you if a Space for police community support officers launches. Nothing else.

That did not look like an email address, so nothing was saved. Have another go below.

We could not save that. The fault is ours, not yours, and your address was not stored. Please try again later.

No Space for police community support officers yet. Should there be one?

Collab365 Spaces is built by the same people as this site. We find the problems that AI and automation are creating inside one kind of work, then solve them as short courses, briefings and Blueprints. Each Space is the community too, so the research and the people doing your job are in the same place.

What a Space actually is, in full

Collab365 launches new communities where the need is real. If one for police community support officers existed, with researched problems, courses and people in the same boat, would you want in?

Your email

We use your email address for one thing: to tell you if a Space for police community support officers launches. We never sell it, never use it for unrelated marketing, and every email has a one-click unsubscribe. Our privacy policy has the full version.

This unlocks nothing. Every figure, every row and every step on this page is already yours, whether you fill this in or not.

No deadline on any of this. The page will still be here, and the data is refreshed on a published schedule rather than when someone wants a headline.

Questions people ask about this job

Will AI replace Police community support officers?: Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 51 official task statements scored for Police community support officers (United Kingdom, SOC 6311), 2% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 13 out of 100 (range 9–19, band: minimal). That is a statement about tasks, not about headcount: this measures what AI could do, not whether any employer adopts it, whether the law allows it, or whether doing the routine parts faster creates more demand for the human parts. Figures are from release 2026-q4.1.
Which tasks in “Police community support officers” can AI already do?: The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Use social media communication to encourage community engagement” (70/100, high); “Provide road information to assist motorists” (53/100, partial); “Document accidents or incidents occurring on duty for safety and compliance records” (49/100, partial). Each score comes from five published 0–4 ratings turned into a number by a published formula, and each carries the model's one-sentence reason on the page.
Which tasks in “Police community support officers” stay human?: About 93% of this job's task weight sits in work that scores low for AI exposure. The lowest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Question individuals entering secured areas to determine their business, directing and rerouting individuals as necessary” (0/100, minimal); “Patrol work areas to detect any suspicious items” (0/100, minimal); “Patrol interior and exterior of courthouse to provide security” (0/100, minimal). Low scores usually mean the task needs a body in a room, a legally accountable human, or trust built in real time. Those are the three things the scoring rubric treats as gates rather than obstacles.
What should someone working in “Police community support officers” do about AI?: Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 2% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 93% is not. The practical move is to spend more of your week on the tasks that score low, the ones above, and to get fluent at directing AI through the tasks that score high, because those are the parts that change whether or not you are ready for them. This page does not predict your job, and nothing here is career advice tailored to you: the score describes the occupation, not the person.
How is the AI exposure score for Police community support officers calculated?: Each official task statement for the occupation is rated on five published 0–4 dimensions (output replicability, physical embodiment, licensed accountability, real-time human trust, and data availability) by claude-opus-5 using scoring prompt task_scoring_v1.0. The model never writes the score; a published formula turns the five ratings into a 0–100 number, so every score can be recomputed by hand. The occupation figure is the importance-weighted mean across 51 scored tasks. The prompt, the rubric, the formula and the full dataset are published at https://futureproof.collab365.com/method and https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1 under CC BY 4.0.

Where these numbers come from

About the data on this page

Provisional, because the ONS revises this figure in the autumn.
This headcount comes from a survey, not a census, so treat it as a good estimate rather than an exact count.
2 rows are marked low confidence, so treat them as a ballpark rather than a fine measurement.
The match between this job and its counterpart in the other country is partial, so the two pages count slightly different groups of people.
13 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.

Task statements: gaisi-indexProcessing: catalogue-bridge → ssc-relatedness-weighting → task-scoring → score-aggregation
Task weights: gaisi-index (relatedness)
Scores: Rubric task_scoring_v1.0, model claude-opus-5, computed 2026-08-05.
Pay and employment: ashe-t14 (ASHE 2025 provisional (reference April 2025))nomis-aps (Apr 2025-Mar 2026 (latest APS 12-month period))

Figures on this page come from release 2026-q4.1, published 2026-08-05. Every release keeps its own permanent address, so a figure you cite in March is still there, unchanged, in November.

The plain-English wording on this page is assembled directly from the task statements and the published ratings, not written by hand for this occupation. That is why it is specific, and it is also why we say so.

The routes and free resources further up are today’s, not the release’s (last reviewed 2026-08-05). A route is an offer, not a historical fact, so it moves on its own clock.

How we score a job Download this release Look up another job

Using these figures?

Cite this

Everything on this site is published under CC BY 4.0. Quote it, chart it, sell something built on it. Just say where it came from, and cite the dated release rather than the site, so the figure you quote stays checkable.

Plain text

Collab365 (2026). Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1 (methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0). https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Built with O*NET data (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); ONS data (Open Government Licence v3.0); GAISI task framework (arXiv:2507.22748, MIT); BLS data (public domain).

BibTeX

@misc{collab365futureproof2026q41,
  title        = {Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1},
  author       = {{Collab365}},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1},
  note         = {Release 2026-q4.1, methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0, CC BY 4.0}
}

Permalink

https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1

Data as of release 2026-q4.1, published 2026-08-05. Releases never change after publication; when the figures move, a new dated release is published beside this one and this one stays exactly where it is.