Advice Sought On Joining The Police
Discussion
I am seriously considering a career change and joining the Police. I have done a good amount of research but have some additional questions that I would appreciate comments and advice on before I can make any real decisions. (The local police force is not recruiting at present so I am considering the possibility of moving.)
Under the conditions of entry regarding eyesight, unaided vision is required to be 6/36 or better. Mine is nowhere near this so, does this mean that it is pointless me pursuing this any further? (I could, of course, have laser eye surgery.) I have asked my local HQ and the occupational health division about this, but they are unable to give me a definitive response.
I understand that it can take up to eighteen months to go through all of the training, vetting and assessment procedures and that this is followed by a two year probationary period. My ultimate ambition is to work within the traffic division.
• How long after the probationary period will it be before you may be considered for this?
• How long does the training to become a Class 1 driver take?
I will be undertaking training to become a Senior Observer with the IAM this summer. I am at present considering training with other specialist driver training organisation - Don Palmer, HPC, Cadence - in order to improve and develop specific skills. Will this be seen as beneficial with regards to following the police driving route (I will almost certainly do it for my own benefit anyway)?
All feedback and advice will be most gratefully received.
Under the conditions of entry regarding eyesight, unaided vision is required to be 6/36 or better. Mine is nowhere near this so, does this mean that it is pointless me pursuing this any further? (I could, of course, have laser eye surgery.) I have asked my local HQ and the occupational health division about this, but they are unable to give me a definitive response.
I understand that it can take up to eighteen months to go through all of the training, vetting and assessment procedures and that this is followed by a two year probationary period. My ultimate ambition is to work within the traffic division.
• How long after the probationary period will it be before you may be considered for this?
• How long does the training to become a Class 1 driver take?
I will be undertaking training to become a Senior Observer with the IAM this summer. I am at present considering training with other specialist driver training organisation - Don Palmer, HPC, Cadence - in order to improve and develop specific skills. Will this be seen as beneficial with regards to following the police driving route (I will almost certainly do it for my own benefit anyway)?
All feedback and advice will be most gratefully received.
Good luck with your endeavour.
I have no inside knowledge at all, but I hear it's very hard to get on the driving courses, and Roads Policing numbers are shrinking. I read full Advanced Course takes around 6 weeks, but you get there in stages?
Not sure they'll take into consideration any civilian advanced driving, although the IAM/RoSPA route must help as it's Roadcraft based.
I have no inside knowledge at all, but I hear it's very hard to get on the driving courses, and Roads Policing numbers are shrinking. I read full Advanced Course takes around 6 weeks, but you get there in stages?
Not sure they'll take into consideration any civilian advanced driving, although the IAM/RoSPA route must help as it's Roadcraft based.
Apex1 said:
I am seriously considering a career change and joining the Police. I have done a good amount of research but have some additional questions that I would appreciate comments and advice on before I can make any real decisions. (The local police force is not recruiting at present so I am considering the possibility of moving.)
Under the conditions of entry regarding eyesight, unaided vision is required to be 6/36 or better. Mine is nowhere near this so, does this mean that it is pointless me pursuing this any further? (I could, of course, have laser eye surgery.) I have asked my local HQ and the occupational health division about this, but they are unable to give me a definitive response.
I understand that it can take up to eighteen months to go through all of the training, vetting and assessment procedures and that this is followed by a two year probationary period. My ultimate ambition is to work within the traffic division.
• How long after the probationary period will it be before you may be considered for this?
• How long does the training to become a Class 1 driver take?
I will be undertaking training to become a Senior Observer with the IAM this summer. I am at present considering training with other specialist driver training organisation - Don Palmer, HPC, Cadence - in order to improve and develop specific skills. Will this be seen as beneficial with regards to following the police driving route (I will almost certainly do it for my own benefit anyway)?
All feedback and advice will be most gratefully received.
Under the conditions of entry regarding eyesight, unaided vision is required to be 6/36 or better. Mine is nowhere near this so, does this mean that it is pointless me pursuing this any further? (I could, of course, have laser eye surgery.) I have asked my local HQ and the occupational health division about this, but they are unable to give me a definitive response.
I understand that it can take up to eighteen months to go through all of the training, vetting and assessment procedures and that this is followed by a two year probationary period. My ultimate ambition is to work within the traffic division.
• How long after the probationary period will it be before you may be considered for this?
• How long does the training to become a Class 1 driver take?
I will be undertaking training to become a Senior Observer with the IAM this summer. I am at present considering training with other specialist driver training organisation - Don Palmer, HPC, Cadence - in order to improve and develop specific skills. Will this be seen as beneficial with regards to following the police driving route (I will almost certainly do it for my own benefit anyway)?
All feedback and advice will be most gratefully received.
I can only speak for my force in this but here we go:
Eyesight:
Laser surgery is accepted but there is usually a delay to ensure this has worked. And extra tests are required i think. Can you wear contacts?
Once you have completed your probationary period you can apply for any specialist role. This is 2 yrs from start date.
Before you can do advanced training you would have completed your standard response course which is 3 weeks.
Advanced is then a further 5 weeks for training. You will then have another week or so for Tactial pursuit. So you are looking at 6 weeks advanced training on top of your 3 weeks basic response.
Aditional courses will make no difference to you application for police driving. Standard response is a shift need and provided you dont have too many points on your license you will be put on this course. Advanced courses are given when you are transfered to specialist roles. You cannot do advanced untill you are in the specialist role.
All drivers are trained from scratch and any aditional training will no doubt help you to pass the course just bear in mind response driving is alot different to civilian driving courses.
When i joined all i wanted to do was roads policing. I have applied and failed to get on the department. Dont think that this will be a given as roads policing numbers are to be cut.
You will deal with crap day in day out for a number of years before you will get onto a specialist department. The powers that be need to see you as an effective officer in your current role before they will consider you for specialist roles.
If you are joining just to do roads policing then you may be misguided as i anticipate i will get onto RPD in a couple of years (making it closer to 5 for me).
But if you can handle shifts, love teamwork, be prepared for crap crap and more crap but some really good moments. Then give it a go.
Do your homework though.
In my opinion i wouldent do any other job, i have had a cracking time dealing with some of the worst people with a great team of officers i work with.
Be prepared to drink alot on shift nights out.
I may moan about the paperwork, the crap jobs and dealing with idiots but the good sides certainly outweigh the bad ones.
Feel free to email if you want anything more specific!
Gareth
Edited by ^Slider^ on Monday 5th February 16:45
None of the courses you list will help you attain a place on any specialist department.
All specialist posts are obtained by applying as you would do for any job.
You will have opportunity within the application form to express interests and any qualifications outside policing related ones. Generally, they will not add weight to your overall suitability.
Once you have applied on paper and your application has been considered, vetted and passed on for further speculation if you are successful in the paper sift, you will be invited to sit a selection board.
If you are serious about the job, you will have had the foresight to research not only the job specifications to the nth degree but also how it fits into the National policing plan and the force objectives. You will also display an abiliy to work with the minimum of supervision and to show high motivation.
If that is achieved within the selction board, then you may be invited to attend the driver training courses. Having done ROSPA, IAM and other courses, you will be at an advantage over those who are on the course with you and have not done them. This will remain an advantage for about a week until they catch up. From then on the course moves a long way from IAM or ROSPA teaching.
Most specialist departments would rather you came with no experience to do the role as they like to teach from scratch so that you get the desired inputs and attitudes from the start. Instructors do not then have to spend time undoing stuff that has been learnt and is either not relevant or not desirable.
As Slider says, It is unusual for recruits to be accepted on specialist departments with the minimum amount of service after probation unless you happen to be exceptional not only in your policing ability but have something unique to offer the particular department.
At the moment, the police are going through a turmoil of change at a rapid rate.
Neighbourhood policing is being rolled out across the country which is at the forefront of the National policing plan we are currently in.
Many forces are underfunded and are having to show further efficiency saving. This includes cutting down on overtime and other measures such as shutting canteens. Pressure from the Home Office is relentless in seeking performance data. Unfortunately this pressure arrives srtaight in the lap of the new recruit on shift or in the neighbourhood unit. You will often feel that you are performing thankless tasks for ungrateful people both within the service and for the people who 'pay our wages
'
That aside, you will not do or see anything like the variety of situations that are available to you once you are sworn in the rank and qualified.
Frustrating ......YES
Financially rewarding ....... NO
Rewarding on a personal level.......MOST DEFINATELY
All specialist posts are obtained by applying as you would do for any job.
You will have opportunity within the application form to express interests and any qualifications outside policing related ones. Generally, they will not add weight to your overall suitability.
Once you have applied on paper and your application has been considered, vetted and passed on for further speculation if you are successful in the paper sift, you will be invited to sit a selection board.
If you are serious about the job, you will have had the foresight to research not only the job specifications to the nth degree but also how it fits into the National policing plan and the force objectives. You will also display an abiliy to work with the minimum of supervision and to show high motivation.
If that is achieved within the selction board, then you may be invited to attend the driver training courses. Having done ROSPA, IAM and other courses, you will be at an advantage over those who are on the course with you and have not done them. This will remain an advantage for about a week until they catch up. From then on the course moves a long way from IAM or ROSPA teaching.
Most specialist departments would rather you came with no experience to do the role as they like to teach from scratch so that you get the desired inputs and attitudes from the start. Instructors do not then have to spend time undoing stuff that has been learnt and is either not relevant or not desirable.
As Slider says, It is unusual for recruits to be accepted on specialist departments with the minimum amount of service after probation unless you happen to be exceptional not only in your policing ability but have something unique to offer the particular department.
At the moment, the police are going through a turmoil of change at a rapid rate.
Neighbourhood policing is being rolled out across the country which is at the forefront of the National policing plan we are currently in.
Many forces are underfunded and are having to show further efficiency saving. This includes cutting down on overtime and other measures such as shutting canteens. Pressure from the Home Office is relentless in seeking performance data. Unfortunately this pressure arrives srtaight in the lap of the new recruit on shift or in the neighbourhood unit. You will often feel that you are performing thankless tasks for ungrateful people both within the service and for the people who 'pay our wages
' That aside, you will not do or see anything like the variety of situations that are available to you once you are sworn in the rank and qualified.
Frustrating ......YES
Financially rewarding ....... NO
Rewarding on a personal level.......MOST DEFINATELY
Edited by mg6b on Monday 5th February 17:55
Just some extra advice for anyone thinking of eye laser treatment -"Laser surgery is accepted but there is usually a delay to ensure this has worked"
Advice to rail workers is to ask for professional advice first - sparkle(night side efects,in bright lights) is one side effect and others are known , but not mentioned by the treatment people ---possibly old advice ,but worth checking out.
Advice to rail workers is to ask for professional advice first - sparkle(night side efects,in bright lights) is one side effect and others are known , but not mentioned by the treatment people ---possibly old advice ,but worth checking out.
^Slider^ said:
Laser surgery is accepted but there is usually a delay to ensure this has worked. And extra tests are required i think. Can you wear contacts?
I telephoned the regional HQ and they explained to me that the requirement for unaided vision of 6/36 (second line down on an optician's chart) or better was being introduced as officers needed to be able to see in the event of their spectacles being damaged. When I asked why contact lenses were not sufficient, they said that CS gas in the eyes was painful if contact lenses were being worn. They were, however, unable to give me a definitive response as to whether my application would be rejected on the grounds of this as they were not qualified to do so. Occupational health were reluctant to do so also.
I have discussed laser surgery with my optician and they advised against this.
^Slider^ said:
I have applied and failed to get on the department. Dont think that this will be a given as roads policing numbers are to be cut.
I had read that this was the case. I also read that the West Mercia force is actually expanding its traffic division. Recruitment force wide has been frozen in my area because of funding cuts.
^Slider^ said:
But if you can handle shifts, love teamwork, be prepared for crap crap and more crap but some really good moments...Do your homework though...In my opinion i wouldent do any other job...
I certainly do need to do my homework as this will be a major change for me, one that may mean moving to an entirely different part of the country. That is why I thought I'd start a thread on here, to get some honest feedback and good advice. I really do appreciate your frankness.
^Slider^ said:
Be prepared to drink alot on shift nights out.
^Slider^ said:
Feel free to email if you want anything more specific!
Thanks! I will do so.
MissChiefJustice said:
I had come across this whilst researching on the net. Maybe now would be a good time to buy it.
mg6b said:
If you are serious about the job, you will have had the foresight to research not only the job specifications to the nth degree but also how it fits into the National policing plan and the force objectives. You will also display an abiliy to work with the minimum of supervision and to show high motivation.
I clearly need to do a great deal more research.
mg6b said:
Most specialist departments would rather you came with no experience to do the role as they like to teach from scratch so that you get the desired inputs and attitudes from the start.
Thank you for that useful advice. And thank you for being so candid.
I do enjoy a challenge. I would hate to do a mundane job. I am very people-orienated. I have never been motivated by money but have found, in my work up until now, making a positive difference in people's lives to be the greatest reward.
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