Are there really more police?
Discussion
Just got to thinking.... Are there actually more police these days?
Billy & Blunderkid keep telling us we have never had it so good, and there are now more policemen than citizens etc
But, maybe my cynicism is misplaced? I haven't seen a beat bobby for many years now and I suspect that there aren't really many left despite the politicians constant spinning.
What's the true picture from those in the job? I suspect I know the answer
Billy & Blunderkid keep telling us we have never had it so good, and there are now more policemen than citizens etc
But, maybe my cynicism is misplaced? I haven't seen a beat bobby for many years now and I suspect that there aren't really many left despite the politicians constant spinning.
What's the true picture from those in the job? I suspect I know the answer
When I joined my force a few years ago, there was an intake of 40 officers every ten weeks approx, of whom 75 per cent would complete their two years probation.
For most of last year, there were 60 newbies every five weeeks. However, the job got more or less the same number of applicants. I absolutely will not be drawn on why you see you less of us... but I suspect the above facts are not unrelated.
For most of last year, there were 60 newbies every five weeeks. However, the job got more or less the same number of applicants. I absolutely will not be drawn on why you see you less of us... but I suspect the above facts are not unrelated.
There are more police now but you probably wont "see" this increase i think for a couple of reasons....
The new officers dont hold a driving ticket so are usually crewed with drivers. (even if they held a ticket the number of cars has not increased so still double crewed) and footpatrol is not usually done as if a unit on foot make an arrest there is not a vehicle close enough to transport the prisoner.
You may notice though if you deal with tha police that you will be dealing with 2 officers rather than one.
The new officers dont hold a driving ticket so are usually crewed with drivers. (even if they held a ticket the number of cars has not increased so still double crewed) and footpatrol is not usually done as if a unit on foot make an arrest there is not a vehicle close enough to transport the prisoner.
You may notice though if you deal with tha police that you will be dealing with 2 officers rather than one.
No Discretion said:
There are more police officers than ever...it very true..
However, there also more specialist squads now running that take the bobbies away from the beat...
Come back;
Beat
Traffic
CID
Yeah thats true... whenever new people join the shift, the same number are either taken off to secondment for 6 months or transfer to other departments perminantly so i guess the shift numbers increase temporarily but soon go back to original levels.
Allegedly, I'm told by a friend, there's an office in our Div HQ with x PSs and x PCs, scrolling through the control room terminals, seeing what jobs there are, and who's doing what.
They then try and give a few more jobs to the already harassed panda drivers (me included, it may say Traffic on the computer, but in reality I just have a bigger, faster panda car) to "clear the screens"...
Now HERE's a radical thought: what if those people in the office (none of whom are on recuperative/light duties) GOT A SET OF BLOODY KEYS AND WENT AND DID SOME SODDING POLICE WORK INSTEAD OF NAGGING ME ALL DAY EVERY DAY.
...and R E L A X ...
They then try and give a few more jobs to the already harassed panda drivers (me included, it may say Traffic on the computer, but in reality I just have a bigger, faster panda car) to "clear the screens"...
Now HERE's a radical thought: what if those people in the office (none of whom are on recuperative/light duties) GOT A SET OF BLOODY KEYS AND WENT AND DID SOME SODDING POLICE WORK INSTEAD OF NAGGING ME ALL DAY EVERY DAY.
...and R E L A X ...
Was talking to a senior police officer the other day and he told me the quality of new recruits to the force was abysmal......he went on to say that most of th new recruits lack enthusiasm and clcok watch all the time....common sense is no longer a requirement to become a police officer said he.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not BiB bashing, it's genuine curiosity and a investigation into how my tax is being spent.
When I were a lad
there was always a policeman outside every orchard and at the end of every street where you played "knock down ginger". I couldn't do anything without getting nobbled.
There seems to have been a real decline in foot patrols IMHO and it may have a lot to do with the rise in general crime and unruly behaviour. Unfortunately there appears to be no-one around to nip it in the bud these days.
Mind you, children seem less inclined to grow up with thick ears these days
When I were a lad
there was always a policeman outside every orchard and at the end of every street where you played "knock down ginger". I couldn't do anything without getting nobbled. There seems to have been a real decline in foot patrols IMHO and it may have a lot to do with the rise in general crime and unruly behaviour. Unfortunately there appears to be no-one around to nip it in the bud these days.
Mind you, children seem less inclined to grow up with thick ears these days
poorcardealer said:
Was talking to a senior police officer the other day and he told me the quality of new recruits to the force was abysmal......he went on to say that most of th new recruits lack enthusiasm and clcok watch all the time....common sense is no longer a requirement to become a police officer said he.
Pity you weren't of ACPO rank....but then again the senior police officer (inspector at a guess) wouldn't have said anything then..
No Discretion said:
And because all of our new stabbies are being given to CSO's so we're scared to go out in the dark!
dont understand...
Sorry, my force has just spent quite a lot of money on new stab vests. Then issued them all to newly recruited CSO's. Then told officers they won't be insured if they're injured through not wearing a stab vest.
No Discretion said:
Was talking to a senior police officer the other day and he told me the quality of new recruits to the force was abysmal......he went on to say that most of th new recruits lack enthusiasm and clcok watch all the time....common sense is no longer a requirement to become a police officer said he.
Pity you weren't of ACPO rank....but then again the senior police officer (inspector at a guess) wouldn't have said anything then..
I could not agree more.
Carnage said:
Carnage said:
And because all of our new stabbies are being given to CSO's so we're scared to go out in the dark!
dont understand...
Sorry, my force has just spent quite a lot of money on new stab vests. Then issued them all to newly recruited CSO's. Then told officers they won't be insured if they're injured through not wearing a stab vest.
My force is compulsary vest wearing from last week..
I should be hearing whether I've passed the assessment for Sussex in the next few days. Apparently recruiting departments have been given an earful about the poor quality of new intakes, so standards have hardened again - does this tally with BIB experience at the moment? Also, 88% of applicants in the last assessment batch for Sussex passed. Is this a good thing (excellent papersifting) or bad (low Centrex pass standards)? Sussex has a policy of hiring everyone that passes (and obviously clears fitness and medical) - good news on the whole, but it does mean I might be waiting another year before I start training 
>> Edited by JulianHJ on Thursday 16th December 00:07
>> Edited by JulianHJ on Thursday 16th December 00:07
Had a report in my local rag this week that police response times were the worst in the MET for my borough and the usual complaints of there seemingly being fewer police around.
The response, also printed, were that the force had grown by x number and that a certain percentage (20-30 from memory) were these so-called 'Community Support Officers' (aka 'Rentacops' round here
)
Firstly, I'm not enturely sure of the difference between a CSO and a PC (if someone could briefly enlighten it'd be appreciated) but secondly, am I the only one confused by the policy of recruiting CSO's whilst keeping PCs (and higher I assume) in the station with pen and paper?
From what I hear on these forums and elsewhere, we do have enough officers to cover the workload (or the majority of it) IF the paperwork burden was reduced.
Am I right here or way off the mark?
The response, also printed, were that the force had grown by x number and that a certain percentage (20-30 from memory) were these so-called 'Community Support Officers' (aka 'Rentacops' round here
) Firstly, I'm not enturely sure of the difference between a CSO and a PC (if someone could briefly enlighten it'd be appreciated) but secondly, am I the only one confused by the policy of recruiting CSO's whilst keeping PCs (and higher I assume) in the station with pen and paper?
From what I hear on these forums and elsewhere, we do have enough officers to cover the workload (or the majority of it) IF the paperwork burden was reduced.
Am I right here or way off the mark?
I bumped into a couple of 
on the beat near my house the other day. I jokingly asked about whether they were on foot because their panda car had been nicked
Anyway, turned out that they were part of a new "visible policing" trial in my town. The scheme means that they "visibly patrol" the park near my house from 5pm to 9pm Friday-Sunday. Funnily enough it's done nothing to reduce the under-age drinking, drug abuse or vandalism which tends to occur after 11pm!
Sheepy
on the beat near my house the other day. I jokingly asked about whether they were on foot because their panda car had been nicked Anyway, turned out that they were part of a new "visible policing" trial in my town. The scheme means that they "visibly patrol" the park near my house from 5pm to 9pm Friday-Sunday. Funnily enough it's done nothing to reduce the under-age drinking, drug abuse or vandalism which tends to occur after 11pm!
Sheepy
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