F**king police specials!!!!
Discussion
ARRRGGGHHHH!!!!
Ok, I appriciate that they are doing a pretty much voluntary job, and I am sure they help out a lot - but why is it that the two I have met (in an off duty capacity) are such utter c
s!!
One I spoke to the other night has just joined, they have had no previous military or police experience (office worker), and we were talking about speeding offenses.
The discussion we were having was about the whole speeding guidelines. I was talking about the accuracy of laser guns and how speeding is an absolute offense so they could, technically do you for a mere smidgin over 30 etc. She suddenly barges in "No its not, the law states you have have up to 10MPH leyway"
When I tried to politely point out that this is not only inaccurate in terms of ACPO guidelines - she then argued that there are no such things as ACPO guidelines, and I just made it up because I was losing the argument!
Are all specials that join the force know-it-all tossers?! The ones I have met seem to be in it for one reason - they are crap at everythign that they do and this gives them a bit of power without actually having to meet the full standards of a competant police officer
Rant over
Ok, I appriciate that they are doing a pretty much voluntary job, and I am sure they help out a lot - but why is it that the two I have met (in an off duty capacity) are such utter c
s!! One I spoke to the other night has just joined, they have had no previous military or police experience (office worker), and we were talking about speeding offenses.
The discussion we were having was about the whole speeding guidelines. I was talking about the accuracy of laser guns and how speeding is an absolute offense so they could, technically do you for a mere smidgin over 30 etc. She suddenly barges in "No its not, the law states you have have up to 10MPH leyway"
When I tried to politely point out that this is not only inaccurate in terms of ACPO guidelines - she then argued that there are no such things as ACPO guidelines, and I just made it up because I was losing the argument!
Are all specials that join the force know-it-all tossers?! The ones I have met seem to be in it for one reason - they are crap at everythign that they do and this gives them a bit of power without actually having to meet the full standards of a competant police officer
Rant over
Ah, the Specials!! I love 'um! Unfortunately at my nick they all just seem to love the idea of rushing round in the backs of our cars, all excited. Unfortunately when you get to where you're going, they suddenly seem less interested in actually getting their hands dirty. Either that or they just press their emergency-button every time they see or hear anything.......
HW
HW
Lightstepper, why so much anger? As you point out, Specials are civilian volunteers and this one is new to the job. Why would you expect her to know the law in great detail? How much time do you see her spending chasing motorists? Why does being new to a voluntary job single her out for abuse? Why would you assume that all Specials are justified targets for your abuse?
More to the point, what do you think would be the effect on society if people like her chose not to donate their time in this way?
More to the point, what do you think would be the effect on society if people like her chose not to donate their time in this way?
We employed a lady who we 'let go' as she was crap at her work, could not deal with any form of pressure, she was truly worse then uselless as she would flap with clients.
A year later I get a reference request from the police as she was going to be a 'special'. I wrote back saying why I would not think it a good idea for her to be in this role on the streets. And cetainly would not want her trying to help me or my family in a pressurised environment as she would fall apart and flap and make matters worse.
Needless to say she got the job.
(god she must have fell from the highest branch of the ugly tree, hit every branch on the way down and then got run over by a combinharvester.)
A year later I get a reference request from the police as she was going to be a 'special'. I wrote back saying why I would not think it a good idea for her to be in this role on the streets. And cetainly would not want her trying to help me or my family in a pressurised environment as she would fall apart and flap and make matters worse.
Needless to say she got the job.
(god she must have fell from the highest branch of the ugly tree, hit every branch on the way down and then got run over by a combinharvester.)
Mon Ami Mate said:
Lightstepper, why so much anger? As you point out, Specials are civilian volunteers and this one is new to the job. Why would you expect her to know the law in great detail? How much time do you see her spending chasing motorists? Why does being new to a voluntary job single her out for abuse? Why would you assume that all Specials are justified targets for your abuse?
More to the point, what do you think would be the effect on society if people like her chose not to donate their time in this way?
Actually I think the effect on society would be better if people exactly like her were stopped from doing it. The anger arises from someone who is such a blaitent power freak managing to be put in a position of any power at all.
Dont get me wrong, I know another special who is currently applying to Slough (
) and she is intelligent, very compentant and will do well as she is willing to accept that she does not know all the ins and outs of the job. The anger is from arrogant people who are going to make the police force look terrible - you think the average person is going to be able to tell the difference between what a special actually is when this arrogant wench descends upon them?
Ah Blacklegs! well the lady in our local nick is a lovely girl if not exactly a looker.
She seems to be the only one prepared to stand out in all weathers at weekends patrolling half a dozen streets afflicted by the magic lanterns brigade and thus keeps the traffic moving.
As usual a balancing view from yours truly.
FiF
She seems to be the only one prepared to stand out in all weathers at weekends patrolling half a dozen streets afflicted by the magic lanterns brigade and thus keeps the traffic moving.
As usual a balancing view from yours truly.
FiF
lightstepper said:
Lightstepper, why so much anger? As you point out, Specials are civilian volunteers and this one is new to the job. Why would you expect her to know the law in great detail? How much time do you see her spending chasing motorists? Why does being new to a voluntary job single her out for abuse? Why would you assume that all Specials are justified targets for your abuse?
More to the point, what do you think would be the effect on society if people like her chose not to donate their time in this way?
Actually I think the effect on society would be better if people exactly like her were stopped from doing it. The anger arises from someone who is such a blaitent power freak managing to be put in a position of any power at all.
Dont get me wrong, I know another special who is currently applying to Slough (
The anger is from arrogant people who are going to make the police force look terrible - you think the average person is going to be able to tell the difference between what a special actually is when this arrogant wench descends upon them?
The Police need Specials, otherwise they wouldn't have them. Specials aren't given free reign to throw their weight around, they are carefully managed. The Police aren't stupid. I don't buy the argument that all Specials are power-crazed inadequates looking for the opportunity to play Hitler. The job is totally lacking in glamour and reward. I've known a few people who have become Specials - all because they have wanted to contribute something useful to society. We all moan and groan about rising crime, how many of us actually have the balls to get positively involved, instead of carping on from our sofas. I take my hat off to anybody who is prepared to become a Special. The rest of us ought to treat them with as much respect as any uniformed officer.
jacko lah said:
Anyone that is prepared to work for NOTHING must have some problem. There are surely better ways of giving back to the community, such as youth work or helping out in the Cub Scouts.
I'm fairly convinced that the sort of people who do this are mentally unstable.
They can't win really, join the specials and they are nazis, help out at the Cubs and they are pervs.
>> Edited by ripton on Tuesday 28th February 11:14
jacko lah said:
Anyone that is prepared to work for NOTHING must have some problem. There are surely better ways of giving back to the community, such as youth work or helping out in the Cub Scouts.
I'm fairly convinced that the sort of people who do this are mentally unstable.
So the 1250(ish) voluntary hours I've spent over the last seven years in a Red Cross ambulance/control unit/first aid post make me a fruit loop then?
loaf said:
So the 1250(ish) voluntary hours I've spent over the last seven years in a Red Cross ambulance/control unit/first aid post make me a fruit loop then?
What's that got to do with the "Specials"? Personaly I have the gretest respect for volunteers which actualy contribute to society. I have to agree that there should be stringent screening on specials though, they have represent a body that can exercise a great deal of power, it's no place for oversized ego's on a power trip.
MR2Mike said:
So the 1250(ish) voluntary hours I've spent over the last seven years in a Red Cross ambulance/control unit/first aid post make me a fruit loop then?
What's that got to do with the "Specials"? Personaly I have the gretest respect for volunteers which actualy contribute to society. I have to agree that there should be stringent screening on specials though, they have represent a body that can exercise a great deal of power, it's no place for oversized ego's on a power trip.
My reply was in response to jacko's assertion that 'anyone who works for nothing...must have some problem'. The British Red Cross and our colleagues in St John Ambulance are the ambulance service equivalent of the Special Constabulary - many of whom I work with on a regular basis at events and so on and I've always found them to be decent people.
Just out of interest - I have family members and friends in the Met - and on some nights in some boroughs Specials are all you get as there aren't enough regulars and those that are on duty are still filling out paperwork for collars they made five hours ago, so to imply that Specials don't contribute to society simply isn't fair. Granted some of them are there because they couldn't hack the full-time force, but most are decent people who genuinely want to help keep their community safe.
I suspect there are some on PH that frequent the
www.policespecials.com/forum/
but if you havnt done so, check it out.
Some very informative, if worrying at other times, posts by volunteer plod over there....
>> Edited by princeperch on Tuesday 28th February 17:21
www.policespecials.com/forum/
but if you havnt done so, check it out.
Some very informative, if worrying at other times, posts by volunteer plod over there....
>> Edited by princeperch on Tuesday 28th February 17:21
julianhj said:My step brother has joined as a PCSO as it was the only route whereby he can become a "proper"
I've been speaking at length with a few regular officers prior to joining as a PC myself - quite a few full-time officers have similar reservations about PCSOs...
He's out at night in the roughest part of town. No gas, no cuffs and no baton
He has had to tackle nutters with knives while his support drives barely above the limit to assist as they are not allowed to speed Imagine a scenario. Full on domestic, with the above mentioned knife, and there's five people kicking off big time. There's him and a colleague, neither with any form of restraints. As he disarms the one with the knife he's being attacked by some of the others. I wouldn't want to do it.
jacko lah said:
Anyone that is prepared to work for NOTHING must have some problem. There are surely better ways of giving back to the community, such as youth work or helping out in the Cub Scouts.
I'm fairly convinced that the sort of people who do this are mentally unstable.
Looks like I'm mentally unstable then.
I used to be a Special.
The folk I worked with fell into 2 distinct groups - those who treated it seriously, integrating with the regulars, and gaining the respect of them.
And those who seemed to be on some sort of uniformed egotrip.
Suffice to say I fell into the former.
My permanent partner was a regular and it took me a few months to gain his trust (not easy - but thoroughly worthwhile).
At the end of it we were the best of mates.
I had to give it up due to work commitments, but for the record I did a full 10:00-06:00 friday night shift and usually 4 hours on a Sunday. Not one of these 'poncing about in unitform'.
K
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff