Future DHEP entry questions..
Discussion
My daughter is still 100% on joining the Police and is now enrolled in a Uni for an English Degree as from Sept.
Her intention is to finish the Degree and then apply specifically to the Met under the DHEP programme, which she hopes will secure a long term career in Policing and / or Intelligence.
Before anyone says, she gets her brains from her mum, not me
I know it's very early days, but can any serving or former plod explain any disadvantages / pitfalls as to this approach?.
I posted a while back about her working too much in the part time job she's got to fund her Uni, FWIW the collective was correct, she is very focused and is determined to join up, and understands the sacrifices needed.
Any info much appreciated.
Her intention is to finish the Degree and then apply specifically to the Met under the DHEP programme, which she hopes will secure a long term career in Policing and / or Intelligence.
Before anyone says, she gets her brains from her mum, not me
I know it's very early days, but can any serving or former plod explain any disadvantages / pitfalls as to this approach?.
I posted a while back about her working too much in the part time job she's got to fund her Uni, FWIW the collective was correct, she is very focused and is determined to join up, and understands the sacrifices needed.
Any info much appreciated.
hidetheelephants said:
Is she going to sign up as a special? Perhaps not terribly compatible with a full student social life but it might show intent.
No intention of doing so because she has a part time job with a pub chain which also allows her to transfer to local pubs to work, so she does that to part fund her course. I think the time constraints ,might be to much. She did eventually get Work experience with the BTP which I didn't mention here as it was very much under the radar, favour for a mate kind of set up.We're helping out where we can, but as me (Railwayman) and my Mrs (Nurse) we're not exactly in the mega rich class, but my Dad did leave money for her education, which I'm trying my best to keep back so she can use it for a house deposit , if ever.
texaxile said:
My daughter is still 100% on joining the Police and is now enrolled in a Uni for an English Degree as from Sept.
Her intention is to finish the Degree and then apply specifically to the Met under the DHEP programme, which she hopes will secure a long term career in Policing and / or Intelligence.
Before anyone says, she gets her brains from her mum, not me
I know it's very early days, but can any serving or former plod explain any disadvantages / pitfalls as to this approach?.
I posted a while back about her working too much in the part time job she's got to fund her Uni, FWIW the collective was correct, she is very focused and is determined to join up, and understands the sacrifices needed.
Any info much appreciated.
Good luck to her! Ive been in for seven years as a PC and almost 17 if you take into account my Specials time. Her intention is to finish the Degree and then apply specifically to the Met under the DHEP programme, which she hopes will secure a long term career in Policing and / or Intelligence.
Before anyone says, she gets her brains from her mum, not me
I know it's very early days, but can any serving or former plod explain any disadvantages / pitfalls as to this approach?.
I posted a while back about her working too much in the part time job she's got to fund her Uni, FWIW the collective was correct, she is very focused and is determined to join up, and understands the sacrifices needed.
Any info much appreciated.
The post above is a good shout. The Specials are fantastic. I loved my time as one.
People will say the job is f
ked. They said it when I joined as a Special and Robert Peel probably said it as well. Its what you make of it.
Response were youll start is fun. But has a shelf life. Some have longer than others. Ive got friends who have done it for 20 years and love it.
I did two and was ready to leave.
Loads of different departments to look into. Got your normal traffic, firearms, dogs, CID etc. Then got covert teams.
I did a course recently with some from the MET. Really opened my eyes to what they deal with (Gang teams...we dont have that, flying squad dealing with Kidnappings daily it seems).
Part of me wishes I had carried on with my application to the MET.
I am looking at leaving. Ive not fully lost the love for it. I've got a move to another department away from RPU which im hoping will help.
Still one of the best jobs I think.
I have to pinch myself sometimes.
Recently escorted the King on a bike (me on the bike not him!) And the PM. Then a few days later dealing with handing clothing back to the family of a deceased following a crash.
My career in the police is coming to an end. If I had the chance to do it all again, I wouldn’t bother with a degree. Around 60% of my intake had degrees, and I don’t think it benefited any of them—it certainly didn’t benefit me. Instead, I wish I’d joined either the Navy or RAF, learned a trade, seen more of the world, and built up some pension before joining the police. I understand the armed forces aren’t for everyone, but there are also great apprenticeships with companies like Barclays, where you can earn valuable qualifications and get paid at the same time.
Having a trade to fall back on is far more valuable than most degrees, and gives you options depending on how your police career progresses.
Having a trade to fall back on is far more valuable than most degrees, and gives you options depending on how your police career progresses.
Terzo123 said:
My career in the police is coming to an end. If I had the chance to do it all again, I wouldn t bother with a degree. Around 60% of my intake had degrees, and I don t think it benefited any of them it certainly didn t benefit me. Instead, I wish I d joined either the Navy or RAF, learned a trade, seen more of the world, and built up some pension before joining the police. I understand the armed forces aren t for everyone, but there are also great apprenticeships with companies like Barclays, where you can earn valuable qualifications and get paid at the same time.
Having a trade to fall back on is far more valuable than most degrees, and gives you options depending on how your police career progresses.
I’m convinced, despite having two degrees, that unless you’re going to be a vet, doctor, accountant, solicitor or similar, that a degree is a complete waste of time. Having a trade to fall back on is far more valuable than most degrees, and gives you options depending on how your police career progresses.
You’d be far better off learning “on the job” and saving yourself a fortune in fees (luckily, in my day, they actually paid me to learn!) and you’ll enter the job market several years earlier…
Oceanrower said:
Terzo123 said:
My career in the police is coming to an end. If I had the chance to do it all again, I wouldn t bother with a degree. Around 60% of my intake had degrees, and I don t think it benefited any of them it certainly didn t benefit me. Instead, I wish I d joined either the Navy or RAF, learned a trade, seen more of the world, and built up some pension before joining the police. I understand the armed forces aren t for everyone, but there are also great apprenticeships with companies like Barclays, where you can earn valuable qualifications and get paid at the same time.
Having a trade to fall back on is far more valuable than most degrees, and gives you options depending on how your police career progresses.
I m convinced, despite having two degrees, that unless you re going to be a vet, doctor, accountant, solicitor or similar, that a degree is a complete waste of time. Having a trade to fall back on is far more valuable than most degrees, and gives you options depending on how your police career progresses.
You d be far better off learning on the job and saving yourself a fortune in fees (luckily, in my day, they actually paid me to learn!) and you ll enter the job market several years earlier
It's a tough gig for kids these days wanting to get even an apprenticeship I think.
I retired a few years ago. If one of my children was considering joining, I would encourage them to consider the degree apprenticeship route. I don’t think it would be as much ‘fun’ as university, but it would be a cheaper long term route to a police career plus a degree qualification.
https://www.met.police.uk/police-forces/metropolit...
https://www.met.police.uk/police-forces/metropolit...
In the role previous to my current one, I was a tutor DC.
Anecdata, but in my provincial force, attrition rate of DHEP direct entry DCs was higher than the other PC entry routes. Additionally, the DHEP DCs were woefully unequipped with the basic cop skills learnt on response and don’t have the same solid foundation of why it’s important to pay attention to what might seem like mundane details such as exhibit continuity/scene control. They certainly didn’t have the same people skills as cops who’d done a couple of years driving a Panda car and having to think on their feet when confronted with all sorts of situations they’d find themselves in.
It’s always been “TJF” but there is so much more oversight now than there was when I started over 30 years ago - rightly so in some areas, but now you’ve got people who “know” their rights pointing a phone in your face at just about ever interaction. There are situations where telling someone “fk off right now, or you’re getting locked up” is justifiable (I’m not suggesting that’s a suitable opening gambit for everything), but people are now getting binned for pretty much that, whereas even just a few years ago, they’d have been getting a proper bking/words of advice from a supervisor and getting all the crap jobs for a couple of weeks to give them time to reflect.
My best mate’s daughter has just started. I did try to talk her out of it. She was due to start April, then a week before it was put back to June. I did tell her she’d have to get used to getting fked around like that, without rhyme or reason sometimes, for the next 35 years.
Personally I’d recommend getting a trade in the military before the police - probably RN or RAF. My best mate did 30 plus years as an air engineer and now works on the UK F35 programme.
Anecdata, but in my provincial force, attrition rate of DHEP direct entry DCs was higher than the other PC entry routes. Additionally, the DHEP DCs were woefully unequipped with the basic cop skills learnt on response and don’t have the same solid foundation of why it’s important to pay attention to what might seem like mundane details such as exhibit continuity/scene control. They certainly didn’t have the same people skills as cops who’d done a couple of years driving a Panda car and having to think on their feet when confronted with all sorts of situations they’d find themselves in.
It’s always been “TJF” but there is so much more oversight now than there was when I started over 30 years ago - rightly so in some areas, but now you’ve got people who “know” their rights pointing a phone in your face at just about ever interaction. There are situations where telling someone “f
k off right now, or you’re getting locked up” is justifiable (I’m not suggesting that’s a suitable opening gambit for everything), but people are now getting binned for pretty much that, whereas even just a few years ago, they’d have been getting a proper bking/words of advice from a supervisor and getting all the crap jobs for a couple of weeks to give them time to reflect.My best mate’s daughter has just started. I did try to talk her out of it. She was due to start April, then a week before it was put back to June. I did tell her she’d have to get used to getting f
ked around like that, without rhyme or reason sometimes, for the next 35 years.Personally I’d recommend getting a trade in the military before the police - probably RN or RAF. My best mate did 30 plus years as an air engineer and now works on the UK F35 programme.
I work for the police, but am not, and have never been, a police officer.
Firstly, I think your daughter needs to consider her options carefully. Policing isn't for everyone, and I definitely couldn't do what they do. It's hard, it's stressful, you have limited say in your career path (you'll be posted where you're needed - not necessarily where you'd like to be). But, it can be super rewarding, and the people who are cut out for it thrive & find their own little niche to excel in.
Signing up as either a special or a PCSO (a paid role) and fitting it around her studies would give her a valuable taster of whether it's for her or not, before jumping into the deep end of the pool. It'd also give her a huge advantage during the application process.
In our force (not the Met) the highest attrition is from the PCDA intakes - which have a significantly longer training period but you get a degree at the end of it. I don't know if it's an "our force" thing, or if every force does this, but our DHEP program is specifically a DC entry route. I don't know if she has a preference for DC over PC ... but if she specifically wants to be a PC, that's something to be aware of.
In my eyes (again - not a police officer) the biggest advantage of having a degree prior to joining is that you have that to fall back on if at any point you decide it's not the path for you.
Good luck to her in whatever route she ends up taking.
Firstly, I think your daughter needs to consider her options carefully. Policing isn't for everyone, and I definitely couldn't do what they do. It's hard, it's stressful, you have limited say in your career path (you'll be posted where you're needed - not necessarily where you'd like to be). But, it can be super rewarding, and the people who are cut out for it thrive & find their own little niche to excel in.
Signing up as either a special or a PCSO (a paid role) and fitting it around her studies would give her a valuable taster of whether it's for her or not, before jumping into the deep end of the pool. It'd also give her a huge advantage during the application process.
In our force (not the Met) the highest attrition is from the PCDA intakes - which have a significantly longer training period but you get a degree at the end of it. I don't know if it's an "our force" thing, or if every force does this, but our DHEP program is specifically a DC entry route. I don't know if she has a preference for DC over PC ... but if she specifically wants to be a PC, that's something to be aware of.
In my eyes (again - not a police officer) the biggest advantage of having a degree prior to joining is that you have that to fall back on if at any point you decide it's not the path for you.
Good luck to her in whatever route she ends up taking.
Oceanrower said:
I m convinced, despite having two degrees, that unless you re going to be a vet, doctor, accountant, solicitor or similar, that a degree is a complete waste of time.
You d be far better off learning on the job and saving yourself a fortune in fees (luckily, in my day, they actually paid me to learn!) and you ll enter the job market several years earlier
It depends on the job. The categories needing a degree these days are far wider than the ones you mention. You d be far better off learning on the job and saving yourself a fortune in fees (luckily, in my day, they actually paid me to learn!) and you ll enter the job market several years earlier
I started full time work at 18 but was lucky enough to then be paid all the way through part time ONC, HNC, and BSc. (8 years in all). When I retired, the qualifications needed to apply for my job were PhD. + 10 years experience.
I think anything remotely science/maths/engineering related now needs BSc plus before anyone would even look at a CV.
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