Joining the Police
Discussion
La Liga said:
Being good at a job and being good at the process to get the job can be quite different things.
Nail on the head there. It's a game, know the rules of the game and you can play it properly. You'll no doubt get several 'experts' where you work as a Special who will tell you what you should be doing at the various stages. I'd advise you seek out someone who genuinely knows the system and precisely what they are looking for. Nothing wrong with asking recruitment/HR etc. Believe it or not, the vast majority of people in recruitment and the assessment/interview process want you to give your best and want to be able to say "yes, we'll have you"
Derek Smith said:
OP:
When I was thinking of joining, this is 1975, I went to a local nick to have a chat with the PCs. The desk sergeant, whom I got to know quite well after I joined, arranged for me to go out with one of the cars for an evening. This was Kent, I joined City of London.
All the driver did was moan, saying much the same as above. He showed me his duties card, with something like 250 hours on it. During the evening they got a prisoner and I sat with the passenger as he went through the paperwork and he said not to mind what the other chap had said as he'd heard the same thing when he was joining, some 10 years or so before.
In 2005, when I retired, I was asked by a neighbour whether he should encourage his son to join. He was a DC within 7 years. He married a Canadian woman and emigrated, joining the police out there. He misses the Mets.
I enjoyed my time. But one thing which was true for my 30 years is that the service changes all the time. If you wait until it is perfect for you then after you've been in it a week, it will be worse.
At the moment there is an anti-Old Bill bloke sitting in #10. What his problem is, no one is clear. However, even his best buddies, those he's awarded a sinecure to for damaging the service, are criticising him to a limited extent. (Got to look after the expense-paid meals and pretty uniforms.) In a few years there will be a disaster where the current force is unable to cope, or, like these hospitals, the privatised service will collapse and things will change.
It won't last of course.
There's a suggestion that forces will merge. Whilst this will almost certainly result in a downgrade in service to the public, and an increase in cost, it might give lots of opportunities to those in the Job.
When I joined pay was dreadful. If I'd had my third child then I could have claimed supplementary benefit. Within 5 years we'd got the biggest rise in the history of the service and I'd gone from working all but 3 days a month to six or seven days off. Then I got promoted, with the pay rise that went with the role, and was comfortable. Over the last 10/12 years of my career it went on a downward spiral, with cuts and restrictions.
Cameron is the architect of the present disasterous plan for the service but with any luck he'll be gone this year. I expect that at least things won't get worse and will probably improve a little.
But the service lacks a certain frisson, a bit of fun, that was present in my time. It also lacks the rampant corruption that pervaded my force in the 70s. I hope you've read my book about those times. Only <£2 on Amazon.
What made me make the jump, despite dropping income by nearly 40%, was the fact that I knew I'd always regret not trying.
Whatever you decide, I hope it is the best for you.
I'm so glad I joined. It wasn't always fun and it can be difficult not to take home some of what you see. However:
One Christmas Day in 1984 - the only Xmas morning I worked in 30 years - I visited the local children's hospital, red nose on. I was welcomed by the nurses but never knew if the kids and the parents just wanted me to p
s off and leave them in peace.
Just before I retired, I was walking the Downs with my wife when a woman came up to and asked if I was a police officer. I said I was off duty but would help if I could. She told me that she'd been in hospital with her critically ill son when I'd come in. She said that the lad talked about the visit and what I'd said and done for days afterwards, and he was the brightest he'd been for ages. She kissed me and then walked off. I didn't ask the obvious question.
Although it is a bit of a cliche, if you do your job to the best of your ability (most of the time) then you will make a positive difference to lots of people.
Rereading this what a beautiful post. When I was thinking of joining, this is 1975, I went to a local nick to have a chat with the PCs. The desk sergeant, whom I got to know quite well after I joined, arranged for me to go out with one of the cars for an evening. This was Kent, I joined City of London.
All the driver did was moan, saying much the same as above. He showed me his duties card, with something like 250 hours on it. During the evening they got a prisoner and I sat with the passenger as he went through the paperwork and he said not to mind what the other chap had said as he'd heard the same thing when he was joining, some 10 years or so before.
In 2005, when I retired, I was asked by a neighbour whether he should encourage his son to join. He was a DC within 7 years. He married a Canadian woman and emigrated, joining the police out there. He misses the Mets.
I enjoyed my time. But one thing which was true for my 30 years is that the service changes all the time. If you wait until it is perfect for you then after you've been in it a week, it will be worse.
At the moment there is an anti-Old Bill bloke sitting in #10. What his problem is, no one is clear. However, even his best buddies, those he's awarded a sinecure to for damaging the service, are criticising him to a limited extent. (Got to look after the expense-paid meals and pretty uniforms.) In a few years there will be a disaster where the current force is unable to cope, or, like these hospitals, the privatised service will collapse and things will change.
It won't last of course.
There's a suggestion that forces will merge. Whilst this will almost certainly result in a downgrade in service to the public, and an increase in cost, it might give lots of opportunities to those in the Job.
When I joined pay was dreadful. If I'd had my third child then I could have claimed supplementary benefit. Within 5 years we'd got the biggest rise in the history of the service and I'd gone from working all but 3 days a month to six or seven days off. Then I got promoted, with the pay rise that went with the role, and was comfortable. Over the last 10/12 years of my career it went on a downward spiral, with cuts and restrictions.
Cameron is the architect of the present disasterous plan for the service but with any luck he'll be gone this year. I expect that at least things won't get worse and will probably improve a little.
But the service lacks a certain frisson, a bit of fun, that was present in my time. It also lacks the rampant corruption that pervaded my force in the 70s. I hope you've read my book about those times. Only <£2 on Amazon.
What made me make the jump, despite dropping income by nearly 40%, was the fact that I knew I'd always regret not trying.
Whatever you decide, I hope it is the best for you.
I'm so glad I joined. It wasn't always fun and it can be difficult not to take home some of what you see. However:
One Christmas Day in 1984 - the only Xmas morning I worked in 30 years - I visited the local children's hospital, red nose on. I was welcomed by the nurses but never knew if the kids and the parents just wanted me to p
s off and leave them in peace.Just before I retired, I was walking the Downs with my wife when a woman came up to and asked if I was a police officer. I said I was off duty but would help if I could. She told me that she'd been in hospital with her critically ill son when I'd come in. She said that the lad talked about the visit and what I'd said and done for days afterwards, and he was the brightest he'd been for ages. She kissed me and then walked off. I didn't ask the obvious question.
Although it is a bit of a cliche, if you do your job to the best of your ability (most of the time) then you will make a positive difference to lots of people.
Ki3r said:
Good evening PH,
As per title really, I'm currently completely an application to become a Police officer. I've been a Special for the last five years and love it. I do a fair amount of hours a month, and fully understand that its not all driving on blue lights (have to admit, I do enjoy the paperwork side of things at the moment!).
I'm just wondering if anyone is able to offer me any advice for the process. The bit I'm not looking forward to is the role plays if I get to the assessment centre, so any advice on that would be great.
If anyone can recommend any books or websites to read I would be grateful.
Attended a application work shop during the week which was really helpful, but looking to do as much as possible to help.
I'm more than happy for PMs if people don't want to discuss what they do in public.
Many thanks.
What's wrong with a career being constructive, engineering etc?As per title really, I'm currently completely an application to become a Police officer. I've been a Special for the last five years and love it. I do a fair amount of hours a month, and fully understand that its not all driving on blue lights (have to admit, I do enjoy the paperwork side of things at the moment!).
I'm just wondering if anyone is able to offer me any advice for the process. The bit I'm not looking forward to is the role plays if I get to the assessment centre, so any advice on that would be great.
If anyone can recommend any books or websites to read I would be grateful.
Attended a application work shop during the week which was really helpful, but looking to do as much as possible to help.
I'm more than happy for PMs if people don't want to discuss what they do in public.
Many thanks.
Ki3r said:
Good evening PH,
As per title really, I'm currently completely an application to become a Police officer. I've been a Special for the last five years and love it. I do a fair amount of hours a month, and fully understand that its not all driving on blue lights (have to admit, I do enjoy the paperwork side of things at the moment!).
I'm just wondering if anyone is able to offer me any advice for the process. The bit I'm not looking forward to is the role plays if I get to the assessment centre, so any advice on that would be great.
If anyone can recommend any books or websites to read I would be grateful.
Attended a application work shop during the week which was really helpful, but looking to do as much as possible to help.
I'm more than happy for PMs if people don't want to discuss what they do in public.
Many thanks.
What's wrong with a career being constructive, engineering etc?As per title really, I'm currently completely an application to become a Police officer. I've been a Special for the last five years and love it. I do a fair amount of hours a month, and fully understand that its not all driving on blue lights (have to admit, I do enjoy the paperwork side of things at the moment!).
I'm just wondering if anyone is able to offer me any advice for the process. The bit I'm not looking forward to is the role plays if I get to the assessment centre, so any advice on that would be great.
If anyone can recommend any books or websites to read I would be grateful.
Attended a application work shop during the week which was really helpful, but looking to do as much as possible to help.
I'm more than happy for PMs if people don't want to discuss what they do in public.
Many thanks.
Productive meaning:
achieving a significant amount or result.
"a long and productive career"
synonyms: prolific, inventive, creative; More
dynamic, energetic, vigorous, effective
"few small towns can have had so productive a group of artists"
useful, constructive, profitable, fruitful, gainful, valuable, effective, worthwhile, beneficial, helpful, rewarding, gratifying
"the talks were said to have been long and productive"
So now your turn what do you produce that can change someone's life, assure, save, protect and make a difference to a victim?
achieving a significant amount or result.
"a long and productive career"
synonyms: prolific, inventive, creative; More
dynamic, energetic, vigorous, effective
"few small towns can have had so productive a group of artists"
useful, constructive, profitable, fruitful, gainful, valuable, effective, worthwhile, beneficial, helpful, rewarding, gratifying
"the talks were said to have been long and productive"
So now your turn what do you produce that can change someone's life, assure, save, protect and make a difference to a victim?
Rovinghawk said:
You suggest that you are productive. I ask again: what do you produce?
Are you really asking me to explain the role of a police officer to you and how one can be productive?If it makes it easier for you to understand...
Today I produced an arrest package for a wanted person.
I then produced the relevant paperwork following arrest and in relation to documenting a search of his house.
During the search I then produced numerous exhibits, 12 I think.
I then produced a statement evidencing the arrest and the continuity of exhibits.
I then produced the relevant detained property records in relation to my earlier exhibits.
I then produced a crime report in relation a qty of drugs recovered during the search.
Following interview I then produced a court file as the chap was remanded for court tomorrow..... get in!
I'm sure you'll agree a fairly productive day. In between all that I managed to produce myself a few cups of tea, as well as for other officers and even the chap I had in custody.
Edited by Greendubber on Friday 19th May 20:06
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