Day in the life of a Trafpol....
Discussion
A day in the life of a Trafpol; (not me)
I am a Road Policing Officer and am 42 years of age. I have been a police officer since 1988. I became interested in becoming a traffic officer within the first few months of joining the police. My Street Duties Tutor was an ex-traffic officer and his enthusiasm for the job inspired me, as well as the other usual attractive points, nice, fast cars, motorbikes and the kudos of being a 'Black Rat', the nickname for a traffic officer.
Today is an early turn - 0700 to 1500 - and the alarm clock went off at 0530. After a wash it's a quick cup of tea before I cycle into the base. I have just spent three days off gardening and I feel shot to bits and I haven't got out on the street yet.
Be prepared ...
It's 0625 so I've still got 35 minutes before it is time to go out. I get my gear together and put the kettle on for the tea for the rest of the section. Grab the keys to the unmarked car, three videotapes, my CAPTOR (pepper) spray and a Speed Ace - this is a small hand held laser speed detection device.
The kettle has boiled and Kev, our skipper (or sergeant), has arrived. We talk about what we got up to over the last three rest days whilst we make the pot of tea for the rest of the section.
By 0635 I'm in the Constables Office to check my emails. I book my warrant number and car onto the computer system so that the Controllers know that I am available for tasking and start making up my pocket notebook for the day in readiness for briefing.
Just before 0700 the skipper briefs us and I am tasked to patrol the A21 from Hastings Sea Front to Kent - a distance of about 30 miles - during the 'golden hours' of 7 until 9 when most traffic is on the road and our collision history shows we are more likely to have a road traffic collision because of the high volume of traffic.
I'm ready to go by 0710 so I load the car with my bag, car coat and hat. After switching on the MDT (on-board computer), radio and video, I drive off towards Battle and head towards the A21 to start my journey north bound. The advantage of the unmarked car is that a lot of people are not aware that you are there and as such they will do things that they won't do in that half mile radius you seem to generate in a marked car. But you have to be a little selective because otherwise you just wouldn't get further than the end of the road from the police station.
The criminal fraternity don't seem to rise much before mid-day in Hastings so one last check of the serials (each call to Police generates a computer serial with all the information about the call that is taken) for the area and away up north I go. It is so different out of the towns. Not so noisy, fresh air and some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK.
The first offender ...
It's almost 0800 and, whilst travelling through Bexhill I pick up a Rover 216, doing 45 mph in a 30 limit along a road, where there are two schools at the time the kids are walking to school. The driver is spoken to and issued with a £60 ticket, which attracts 3 points to his driving licence. He accepts that it was not responsible to travel at those speeds when the children are walking to school.
As my patrol continues I stop a HGV, which has no operators licence displayed. Speaking to the driver we discover the disc has fallen down the back of the dashboard. Between the two of us we manage to retrieve it and put it back in the holder. Checking his tacographs for the week he is advised that he is close to his limit on his driver's hours.
A little bit later, I get a call about a large transit van towing a trailer loaded with ballast driven by a Road Maintenance worker has run into the back of a Vauxhall Vectra driven by a lady school teacher. The Ambulance is on scene and treating the lady. She appears to have whiplash but they decide to err on the side of caution and back board her away to Hospital. I explain to her that I will go to the hospital after we finish at the scene. Her car is not badly damaged and she asks if we can take her car home. This happens to be just around the corner.
The van driver is given a breath test him and this is negative (no indication of alcohol) - we will do this to all drivers involved in a collision. His van is moved to a side road and his company contacted to arrange recovery. I go to the hospital and speak to the lady from the crash. She is asked to give a breath test. She agrees to this and again it's negative. She says that she does not want the van driver prosecuted as she says, "It's just one of those things".
After lunch it's time head off to Hastings magistrates court for a Driving Whilst Unfit through drugs. I am one of the Field Impairment Testing officers that have been trained by the Traffic Training Section. It is the same as the American Sobriety Test that you see on a lot of the fly-on-the-wall programmes. But I am stood down from court a couple of hours later as the defendant has failed to appear. Not unusual but none the less annoying. Its 1500 so it's time to head home. All in all I patrolled 136 miles.
taken from a Surrey Policeman's BBC interview
>>> Edited by Streetcop on Friday 28th January 20:02
I am a Road Policing Officer and am 42 years of age. I have been a police officer since 1988. I became interested in becoming a traffic officer within the first few months of joining the police. My Street Duties Tutor was an ex-traffic officer and his enthusiasm for the job inspired me, as well as the other usual attractive points, nice, fast cars, motorbikes and the kudos of being a 'Black Rat', the nickname for a traffic officer.
Today is an early turn - 0700 to 1500 - and the alarm clock went off at 0530. After a wash it's a quick cup of tea before I cycle into the base. I have just spent three days off gardening and I feel shot to bits and I haven't got out on the street yet.
Be prepared ...
It's 0625 so I've still got 35 minutes before it is time to go out. I get my gear together and put the kettle on for the tea for the rest of the section. Grab the keys to the unmarked car, three videotapes, my CAPTOR (pepper) spray and a Speed Ace - this is a small hand held laser speed detection device.
The kettle has boiled and Kev, our skipper (or sergeant), has arrived. We talk about what we got up to over the last three rest days whilst we make the pot of tea for the rest of the section.
By 0635 I'm in the Constables Office to check my emails. I book my warrant number and car onto the computer system so that the Controllers know that I am available for tasking and start making up my pocket notebook for the day in readiness for briefing.
Just before 0700 the skipper briefs us and I am tasked to patrol the A21 from Hastings Sea Front to Kent - a distance of about 30 miles - during the 'golden hours' of 7 until 9 when most traffic is on the road and our collision history shows we are more likely to have a road traffic collision because of the high volume of traffic.
I'm ready to go by 0710 so I load the car with my bag, car coat and hat. After switching on the MDT (on-board computer), radio and video, I drive off towards Battle and head towards the A21 to start my journey north bound. The advantage of the unmarked car is that a lot of people are not aware that you are there and as such they will do things that they won't do in that half mile radius you seem to generate in a marked car. But you have to be a little selective because otherwise you just wouldn't get further than the end of the road from the police station.
The criminal fraternity don't seem to rise much before mid-day in Hastings so one last check of the serials (each call to Police generates a computer serial with all the information about the call that is taken) for the area and away up north I go. It is so different out of the towns. Not so noisy, fresh air and some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK.
The first offender ...
It's almost 0800 and, whilst travelling through Bexhill I pick up a Rover 216, doing 45 mph in a 30 limit along a road, where there are two schools at the time the kids are walking to school. The driver is spoken to and issued with a £60 ticket, which attracts 3 points to his driving licence. He accepts that it was not responsible to travel at those speeds when the children are walking to school.
As my patrol continues I stop a HGV, which has no operators licence displayed. Speaking to the driver we discover the disc has fallen down the back of the dashboard. Between the two of us we manage to retrieve it and put it back in the holder. Checking his tacographs for the week he is advised that he is close to his limit on his driver's hours.
A little bit later, I get a call about a large transit van towing a trailer loaded with ballast driven by a Road Maintenance worker has run into the back of a Vauxhall Vectra driven by a lady school teacher. The Ambulance is on scene and treating the lady. She appears to have whiplash but they decide to err on the side of caution and back board her away to Hospital. I explain to her that I will go to the hospital after we finish at the scene. Her car is not badly damaged and she asks if we can take her car home. This happens to be just around the corner.
The van driver is given a breath test him and this is negative (no indication of alcohol) - we will do this to all drivers involved in a collision. His van is moved to a side road and his company contacted to arrange recovery. I go to the hospital and speak to the lady from the crash. She is asked to give a breath test. She agrees to this and again it's negative. She says that she does not want the van driver prosecuted as she says, "It's just one of those things".
After lunch it's time head off to Hastings magistrates court for a Driving Whilst Unfit through drugs. I am one of the Field Impairment Testing officers that have been trained by the Traffic Training Section. It is the same as the American Sobriety Test that you see on a lot of the fly-on-the-wall programmes. But I am stood down from court a couple of hours later as the defendant has failed to appear. Not unusual but none the less annoying. Its 1500 so it's time to head home. All in all I patrolled 136 miles.
taken from a Surrey Policeman's BBC interview
>>> Edited by Streetcop on Friday 28th January 20:02
SotonS2 said:
I am tasked to patrol the A21 from Hastings Sea Front to Kent
Streetcop said:
taken from a Surrey Policeman's BBC interview
Suggest he gets himself a SatNav, StreetCop. Unless was he moonlighting on another patch ?
That is what I was thinking.
But before that, I thought it was about Streetcop, who at 42 would have been the same age as me
steff said:
What we need now is "Day in the life of a civvy scam operator" -
09:00 - 16:00 - Got enough on bonus payments to take my family on a 4 week holiday to Hawaii. Sped back to base as dinner was getting cold.
LOL - Nail on head!!
I am somewhat cynical about these things being representative. I remember seeing in the TES a similar sort of thing about a typical teachers day ; there were three teachers showing how hard they worked giving a diary of the day.
Thing was, two of them chose a day when they had a parents evening. There are about one of these a term - tops ....
PC Nonnymus said:
Today is an early turn - 0700 to 1500 - and the alarm clock went off at 0530. After a wash it's a quick cup of tea before I cycle into the base. I have just spent three days off gardening and I feel shot to bits and I haven't got out on the street yet.
What! He has the luxury of three days off to do his garden? They don't give me that perk! And I need it more for me golf!
No wonder those BiBs in this family play better than me now! They've been practising! Pcc Nonnymus said:
The kettle has boiled and Kev, our skipper (or sergeant), has arrived. We talk about what we got up to over the last three rest days whilst we make the pot of tea for the rest of the section.
Rest days!
And time for a brew and and a comparison of garden gnomes! (Are the gnomes in uniform? 
) I should perhaps write a diary of my days as a junior doctor - 120 hours per week and expected to study if I wanted to progress. Not time for even a pee!
Better not describe my average day as now either - as it is quite scary considering I am trying to prolong life!
We have not even considered what the nurses do either!
PC Nonnymus said:
Just before 0700 the skipper briefs us and I am tasked to patrol the A21 from Hastings Sea Front to Kent - a distance of about 30 miles - during the 'golden hours' of 7 until 9 when most traffic is on the road and our collision history shows we are more likely to have a road traffic collision because of the high volume of traffic.
Ah! So not speed then! PC Nonnymus said:
The advantage of the unmarked car is that a lot of people are not aware that you are there and as such they will do things that they won't do in that half mile radius you seem to generate in a marked car. But you have to be a little selective because otherwise you just wouldn't get further than the end of the road from the police station.
If the name of the game is safety - then good reason to have properly marked cars since people obviously behave better if they are there.
Sounds like he likes prosecuting people!
PC Nonnymus said:
The criminal fraternity don't seem to rise much before mid-day in Hastings so one last check of the serials (each call to Police generates a computer serial with all the information about the call that is taken) for the area and away up north I go. It is so different out of the towns. Not so noisy, fresh air and some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK.
That's because they do their burglaries in the small hours!
When people are sleeping deeply!
Wish my working day could take me for a country drive! That ain't working!
PC Nonnymus said:
The first offender ...
It's almost 0800 and, whilst travelling through Bexhill I pick up a Rover 216, doing 45 mph in a 30 limit along a road, where there are two schools at the time the kids are walking to school. The driver is spoken to and issued with a £60 ticket, which attracts 3 points to his driving licence. He accepts that it was not responsible to travel at those speeds when the children are walking to school.
Am surprised he could really get up to that speed in morning rush hour - especially when mumpties and teachers are heading to the two schools as well!
I've done a school run back in September before eldest passed his test. (They hiked up the school bus fees!) I can confirm from the experience in a rural area that you are lucky to reach the speed limit!
PC Nonnymus said:
A little bit later, I get a call about a large transit van towing a trailer loaded with ballast driven by a Road Maintenance worker has run into the back of a Vauxhall Vectra driven by a lady school teacher. The Ambulance is on scene and treating the lady. She appears to have whiplash but they decide to err on the side of caution and back board her away to Hospital. I explain to her that I will go to the hospital after we finish at the scene. Her car is not badly damaged and she asks if we can take her car home. This happens to be just around the corner.
Happened to friend of my sister's. Plod were not interested as "she was not seriously injured"
She had whiplash injuries just the same! PC Nonnymus said:
After lunch
What's that?
Most folks do not have this luxury! PC Nonnymus said:
it's time head off to Hastings magistrates court for a Driving Whilst Unfit through drugs. I am one of the Field Impairment Testing officers that have been trained by the Traffic Training Section. It is the same as the American Sobriety Test that you see on a lot of the fly-on-the-wall programmes. But I am stood down from court a couple of hours later as the defendant has failed to appear. Not unusual but none the less annoying. Its 1500 so it's time to head home. All in all I patrolled 136 miles.
All in all a quiet afternoon then!
Streetcop said:
The advantage of the unmarked car is that a lot of people are not aware that you are there and as such they will do things that they won't do in that half mile radius you seem to generate in a marked car.
I can't see how that's an advantage. In fact his next sentence describes exactly why it is not, and how it reduces safety....
Clearly he's described the best reason for only using marked cars - there you are, it's official - marked cars are better for safety.
Globulators said:
The advantage of the unmarked car is that a lot of people are not aware that you are there and as such they will do things that they won't do in that half mile radius you seem to generate in a marked car.
I can't see how that's an advantage. In fact his next sentence describes exactly why it is not, and how it reduces safety....
Clearly he's described the best reason for only using marked cars - there you are, it's official - marked cars are better for safety.
But sometimes - line in other areas of undercover police work - unmarked cars are needed to catch a certain type of offender. Horses for courses.
Globulators said:
there you are, it's official - marked cars are better for safety.
For that 30 second, half mile period!!! After that the knobhead in the chavmobile continues to drive like a tosser and eventually upsets a pistonheaders or collides with someones TVR...
However, a few tickets/ROS from a BiB in an unmarked car has an effect on Mr Chav for some time to come..
towman said:
Bit of a swot isn`t he? Arrives 35 minutes before the start of duty? Or was it just so he could "grab the keys to unmarked.."
'bit of a swot'.......the kind of phrase I would use..
On mornings that's ok..as it means the night shift can get off early..and you've got your car stocked and kit on ready for the morning commuter collisions....
As for afters shift or evenings/nights...about 20 mins before is plenty..
towman said:
Bit of a swot isn`t he? Arrives 35 minutes before the start of duty? Or was it just so he could "grab the keys to unmarked.."
Liebchen - he gets up at 5.30 a.m, has shower und brew und cycles und ist at work within the hour.
He ist a real swot, und a right goody two shoes!- und trying to get us to commute to work on bicycle
He must live next door to station!
Strassencop said:
there you are, it's official - marked cars are better for safety.
Und far less mit scamera - nicht?
Strassencop said:
After that the knobhead in the chavmobile continues to drive like a tosser and eventually upsets a pistonheaders or collides with someones TVR...
However, a few tickets/ROS from a BiB in an unmarked car has an effect on Mr Chav for some time to come..
Und there are those who do not even notice the marked car - und they still misbehaved in front of PC Dannyboy in his marked T5 on Traffic Cops the other week.
Und a cop worth his salt recognises a tosspot anyway - as there are some tell tale signs. If I can spot 'em mit my COAST skills, Liebchen - then you should!
(Und the ones I note more stick out like sore thumb as I see very few of them...they usually have big blue lights on the top of them!
- but are not always police cars ) But you can spot the unmarked car a mile off if you know what to look for
Und we do!
Und the one I saw last month changed lanes suddenly und on last minute - but went into the service station for his doughnuts....
But - he has a very easy day compared to others. You should try mine...
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