The average estimated cost of employing a police officer (sergeant and constable) in 2005 was approximately £45,500. This estimate includes all pay-related costs including overtime payments and employer national insurance contributions. It also makes an allowance for notional employer pension contributions.
Salary and other terms and conditions for police community support officers (PCSOs), as with all police (civilian) staff are determined by the respective police authority. We do not routinely maintain data on PCSO salaries. The most recent data we have on PCSO salary costs and allowances is contained in a report by Accenture on terms and conditions for PCSOs, which was published on 3 February. The report provides a range of data on basic pay rates and allowances from 2004-05 paid to PCSOs and an analysis of the variations between forces. The report found that the typical (unweighted) average salary for PCSOs was £17,200 and the average total cash reward (basic salary plus allowances and overtime) was £20,500. The report is available on the Home Office website:
http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/community-policing/community-support-officers/
Employers’ national insurance is an additional 11 per cent. The average pension contribution between police authorities is not available for 2004-05 but estimated in 2005-06 to be 14.2 per cent.