Question for Plod....
Discussion
Not sure if this should go in SP&L or not as it's more of a general thing.
A while back, their was a thread on housing and stuff. Towards the end I made the comment that basically:
"I don't think the money was the main reason people joined the police"
So, to all those BiB's who are wandering around here: Why did you join the Police?
A while back, their was a thread on housing and stuff. Towards the end I made the comment that basically:
"I don't think the money was the main reason people joined the police"
So, to all those BiB's who are wandering around here: Why did you join the Police?
A few reasons, in no particular order:
- I hated the monotony of a 9-5 sales & marketing job
- I dreaded the idea of 30 years in a suit, working towards the ultimate goal of making my bosses even more money, where the bottom line was king
- I was pi$$ed off at the state of UK crime and wanted to do my bit, instead of just moaning about it
- If I don't screw up it's a career for life
- From speaking to others in the job it seemed at times very exciting/interesting/fun
- There can be a lot of different career paths within the job, and you can move around every few years into very different roles
- No two days are ever the same
I've been in 8 months, am just about to finish my training and I LOVE my job. I've never been able to say that before.
- I hated the monotony of a 9-5 sales & marketing job
- I dreaded the idea of 30 years in a suit, working towards the ultimate goal of making my bosses even more money, where the bottom line was king
- I was pi$$ed off at the state of UK crime and wanted to do my bit, instead of just moaning about it
- If I don't screw up it's a career for life
- From speaking to others in the job it seemed at times very exciting/interesting/fun
- There can be a lot of different career paths within the job, and you can move around every few years into very different roles
- No two days are ever the same
I've been in 8 months, am just about to finish my training and I LOVE my job. I've never been able to say that before.
chilli said:
Is it still the case that you can't join the BIB if you have a criminal record.....even a minor one many years ago?
Dunno, I was poking around Hampshire's website a while back. Got the impression that being busted for a few joints in your teens is 'okish' but 'axe murderer... 'not really, the right sort of person'.
However a driving license (clean apparently) is a must. Which for the time being boswelloxes me.
ThePassenger said:
chilli said:
Is it still the case that you can't join the BIB if you have a criminal record.....even a minor one many years ago?
Dunno, I was poking around Hampshire's website a while back. Got the impression that being busted for a few joints in your teens is 'okish' but 'axe murderer... 'not really, the right sort of person'.
However a driving license (clean apparently) is a must. Which for the time being boswelloxes me.
If the BiB and the State keep going as they are, and require a clean driving licence, within five years they will have no recruiting base.
What a stupid criterion if true.
ThePassenger said:
However a driving license (clean apparently) is a must. Which for the time being boswelloxes me.
Is that true? Given the the huge rise in scammers, isn't that going to whittle down their recruiting base to virtually none pretty quickly? I know it would rule me out at the moment, despite my accident-free record and IAM qualification, all for the heinous crime of driving at 92mph on a quiet motorway on a clear dry summers day... julianhj said:
A few reasons, in no particular order:
- I hated the monotony of a 9-5 sales & marketing job
- I dreaded the idea of 30 years in a suit, working towards the ultimate goal of making my bosses even more money, where the bottom line was king
- I was pi$$ed off at the state of UK crime and wanted to do my bit, instead of just moaning about it
- If I don't screw up it's a career for life
- From speaking to others in the job it seemed at times very exciting/interesting/fun
- There can be a lot of different career paths within the job, and you can move around every few years into very different roles
- No two days are ever the same
I've been in 8 months, am just about to finish my training and I LOVE my job. I've never been able to say that before.
- I hated the monotony of a 9-5 sales & marketing job
- I dreaded the idea of 30 years in a suit, working towards the ultimate goal of making my bosses even more money, where the bottom line was king
- I was pi$$ed off at the state of UK crime and wanted to do my bit, instead of just moaning about it
- If I don't screw up it's a career for life
- From speaking to others in the job it seemed at times very exciting/interesting/fun
- There can be a lot of different career paths within the job, and you can move around every few years into very different roles
- No two days are ever the same
I've been in 8 months, am just about to finish my training and I LOVE my job. I've never been able to say that before.
Conversely, I would be interested to find out once the honeymoon period is over if the job's all that great after all.
Are the stations full of people desperate to get out but finding themselves pigeon-holed, with the only alternative becoming a security guard? (Of course I'm sure there are loads of other transferrable skills)
mat205125 said:
Not that I could apply due to my extensive criminal record (3 points and a £60 fine), but is the money outside of London actually any good?
Bet the starting wage is pretty pants during training ain't it?
Bet the starting wage is pretty pants during training ain't it?
It's better than I'm on after 4 years in my current job
www.southyorks.police.uk/careers/regulars/pay.php
mat205125 said:
Not that I could apply due to my extensive criminal record (3 points and a £60 fine), but is the money outside of London actually any good?
Bet the starting wage is pretty pants during training ain't it?
Bet the starting wage is pretty pants during training ain't it?
You could apply, that's not a criminal conviction.
Money isn't the main reason for joining, but it's not that bad really.
I joined the Police after 9 years in the forces as it was something I wanted to do when I was 18 but told to bugger off and get some life experience first (which I certainly got)
Money isn't marvellous, but I'm not really complaining. What other job can you get that every day is different. One minute you are wading into a pub fight, next minute you are taking a statement from a woman who has been beaten up by her husband you have just arrested, next job is to give someone a death message that a close relative has died.
That's the bad side.
The good side is bloody good cameraderie (not quite what the armed forces have, but near to it) not bad money, good pension (which you will pay 11% of your wages into) and above all, it can be a right good laugh.
You will get doom mongers criticising, it happens everywhere, but if you do the best you can, have a black sense of humour, can take stick, but also not be afraid of stepping into a situation where you may get hurt, have diplomacy and discretion, you won't look back.
It's a good job.
Money isn't marvellous, but I'm not really complaining. What other job can you get that every day is different. One minute you are wading into a pub fight, next minute you are taking a statement from a woman who has been beaten up by her husband you have just arrested, next job is to give someone a death message that a close relative has died.
That's the bad side.
The good side is bloody good cameraderie (not quite what the armed forces have, but near to it) not bad money, good pension (which you will pay 11% of your wages into) and above all, it can be a right good laugh.
You will get doom mongers criticising, it happens everywhere, but if you do the best you can, have a black sense of humour, can take stick, but also not be afraid of stepping into a situation where you may get hurt, have diplomacy and discretion, you won't look back.
It's a good job.
chilli said:
Is it still the case that you can't join the BIB if you have a criminal record.....even a minor one many years ago?
No, some 'minor' offences, esp juvenile stuff are acceptable.
They seem to accept a bit of youthful drunkeness ( D and D), minor motoring (I even met one lad had was disqualified under a totter on joining), drugs (single caution for cannabis some time ago). You might just swing a juvenile shoplifting caution but anything dishonest, sexual or violent and you are on a hiding to nothing.
A friend of my daughter was disqualified for drunk driving and couldn't apply until the conviction was spent which I think was 5 years (akthough they are never 'spent' for applications to policing, nursing etc).
Their reasons for wanting to join at examined at recruitment and replies such as (you sould see me drive fast cars: I like the colour of the suit; there is a good pension: or My father told me to (which are al real BTW)) are likely to lead to additional scrutiny and if you continue that line you won't be geting a job. Oddly 'I want to carry a gun' works for some fully armed forces.
Most recruits want to make a difference to their communities, whichj is quite nice to hear.
kooper said:
julianhj said:
A few reasons, in no particular order:
- I hated the monotony of a 9-5 sales & marketing job
- I dreaded the idea of 30 years in a suit, working towards the ultimate goal of making my bosses even more money, where the bottom line was king
- I was pi$$ed off at the state of UK crime and wanted to do my bit, instead of just moaning about it
- If I don't screw up it's a career for life
- From speaking to others in the job it seemed at times very exciting/interesting/fun
- There can be a lot of different career paths within the job, and you can move around every few years into very different roles
- No two days are ever the same
I've been in 8 months, am just about to finish my training and I LOVE my job. I've never been able to say that before.
- I hated the monotony of a 9-5 sales & marketing job
- I dreaded the idea of 30 years in a suit, working towards the ultimate goal of making my bosses even more money, where the bottom line was king
- I was pi$$ed off at the state of UK crime and wanted to do my bit, instead of just moaning about it
- If I don't screw up it's a career for life
- From speaking to others in the job it seemed at times very exciting/interesting/fun
- There can be a lot of different career paths within the job, and you can move around every few years into very different roles
- No two days are ever the same
I've been in 8 months, am just about to finish my training and I LOVE my job. I've never been able to say that before.
Conversely, I would be interested to find out once the honeymoon period is over if the job's all that great after all.
Are the stations full of people desperate to get out but finding themselves pigeon-holed, with the only alternative becoming a security guard? (Of course I'm sure there are loads of other transferrable skills)
Yup, I'm under no illusions that the jobs is at times hard, dirty, sickening, unrewarding and extremely unpleasant, but I'll take much chances and see if it fits me, and vice versa.
Joined when I was a lass - did a while then left. Wanted to make a difference in some way - not just moan about how bad society was but never try and improve it. Looking back I wish I'd stayed in, but hindsight tells me I was too young when I first joined, and would have done better to find out a bit more about life first.
I take my hat off to all the emergency services - it's just the criminal justice system that lets them down......
I take my hat off to all the emergency services - it's just the criminal justice system that lets them down......
julianhj said:
kooper said:
julianhj said:
A few reasons, in no particular order:
- I hated the monotony of a 9-5 sales & marketing job
- I dreaded the idea of 30 years in a suit, working towards the ultimate goal of making my bosses even more money, where the bottom line was king
- I was pi$$ed off at the state of UK crime and wanted to do my bit, instead of just moaning about it
- If I don't screw up it's a career for life
- From speaking to others in the job it seemed at times very exciting/interesting/fun
- There can be a lot of different career paths within the job, and you can move around every few years into very different roles
- No two days are ever the same
I've been in 8 months, am just about to finish my training and I LOVE my job. I've never been able to say that before.
- I hated the monotony of a 9-5 sales & marketing job
- I dreaded the idea of 30 years in a suit, working towards the ultimate goal of making my bosses even more money, where the bottom line was king
- I was pi$$ed off at the state of UK crime and wanted to do my bit, instead of just moaning about it
- If I don't screw up it's a career for life
- From speaking to others in the job it seemed at times very exciting/interesting/fun
- There can be a lot of different career paths within the job, and you can move around every few years into very different roles
- No two days are ever the same
I've been in 8 months, am just about to finish my training and I LOVE my job. I've never been able to say that before.
Conversely, I would be interested to find out once the honeymoon period is over if the job's all that great after all.
Are the stations full of people desperate to get out but finding themselves pigeon-holed, with the only alternative becoming a security guard? (Of course I'm sure there are loads of other transferrable skills)
Yup, I'm under no illusions that the jobs is at times hard, dirty, sickening, unrewarding and extremely unpleasant, but I'll take much chances and see if it fits me, and vice versa.
One of my best friends is in the Met, just passed his sergeant exams and done the driving course. He was full of beans and excited to begin with, but it's ground him down a little now and he's a bit jaded about the day to day. I guess you would be working in Camden! Still, as an avid biker he's aiming to get his police bike license / exams so he can roll around town like Chips!
I did ten years in the motor trade. I got bored of the same routine everyday and wanted something challenging.
I decided to join up and have been in the Job 5 years now.
Like any job it can be very frustrating at times, ( Paperwork Politicans CPS Human Rights Act)
On the up side every day is different and i have done some excellent courses over the years, I would certainly reccomend it to anyone thinking of joining
I decided to join up and have been in the Job 5 years now.
Like any job it can be very frustrating at times, ( Paperwork Politicans CPS Human Rights Act)
On the up side every day is different and i have done some excellent courses over the years, I would certainly reccomend it to anyone thinking of joining
paulie-mafia said:
One of my best friends is in the Met, just passed his sergeant exams and done the driving course. He was full of beans and excited to begin with, but it's ground him down a little now and he's a bit jaded about the day to day. I guess you would be working in Camden! Still, as an avid biker he's aiming to get his police bike license / exams so he can roll around town like Chips!
sounds suspiciously like a mate of mine - he's not of Portuguese decent is he?
minornut said:
mat205125 said:
Not that I could apply due to my extensive criminal record (3 points and a £60 fine), but is the money outside of London actually any good?
Bet the starting wage is pretty pants during training ain't it?
Bet the starting wage is pretty pants during training ain't it?
It's better than I'm on after 4 years in my current job
www.southyorks.police.uk/careers/regulars/pay.php
£47k for a Chief Inspector?!
All respect to those that do, but I wouldn't do such a job for that kind of pay...
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