Thinking of a career in the force
Discussion
Ever since I was a youngster I wanted to join the police force but I couldn't when I became old enough due to short sightedness.
However, I understand that the rules are somewhat different now and officers with contact lenses or glasses are acceptable (I wear contacts).
I have never had a criminal record, only one speeding ticket!
The trouble is I am now almost 38 and have a good science based career and pretty good salary plus a mortgage and I'm married but I still have a strong desire to join the force and specialise in a certain area of policing. Having worked for many years as an auditor and in particular looking into fraud in the medical field I think I'd be well suited to pursuing a career in that direction or possibly TrafPol since anything motor related is very interesting to me. I am pretty adept at keeping a clear head in an emergency and used to crew an ambulance voluntarily for several years. I also feel I'd like to help to improve the everyday lives for people by serving the community.
I was studying for my science degree part time but a family bereavement and then redundancy put a stop to that and then my career took off again and I found myself very busy working in the UK and Switzerland and a short spell in Canada. I'm currently involved in projects at work and have spent a fair bit of time travelling to the States during the past 3 years to progress a project as a global project lead so I have seen a bit of the world and I am regarded as a knowledgable and confident person by my colleagues.
I'm also reasonably fit and healthy and certainly not a couch potatoe.
Anyway, I wonder whether anyone who already has a career in the force or knows about recruitment can give me their thoughts on how sensible starting a career in the force would be at 38?
Thank you in advance for any help.
However, I understand that the rules are somewhat different now and officers with contact lenses or glasses are acceptable (I wear contacts).
I have never had a criminal record, only one speeding ticket!
The trouble is I am now almost 38 and have a good science based career and pretty good salary plus a mortgage and I'm married but I still have a strong desire to join the force and specialise in a certain area of policing. Having worked for many years as an auditor and in particular looking into fraud in the medical field I think I'd be well suited to pursuing a career in that direction or possibly TrafPol since anything motor related is very interesting to me. I am pretty adept at keeping a clear head in an emergency and used to crew an ambulance voluntarily for several years. I also feel I'd like to help to improve the everyday lives for people by serving the community.
I was studying for my science degree part time but a family bereavement and then redundancy put a stop to that and then my career took off again and I found myself very busy working in the UK and Switzerland and a short spell in Canada. I'm currently involved in projects at work and have spent a fair bit of time travelling to the States during the past 3 years to progress a project as a global project lead so I have seen a bit of the world and I am regarded as a knowledgable and confident person by my colleagues.
I'm also reasonably fit and healthy and certainly not a couch potatoe.
Anyway, I wonder whether anyone who already has a career in the force or knows about recruitment can give me their thoughts on how sensible starting a career in the force would be at 38?
Thank you in advance for any help.
I know plenty of people who have joined aged 40 plus. It's no hindrance to getting in the job, and could actually work in your favour as you'll have plenty of life experience. I joined at 21, and knew the square root of f*@# all about life, so I had a much steeper learning curve than you would have.
There are some disadvantages to joining late - you wouldn't get anything like a full Police pension for instance, although the pension regs have just changed, and could benefit late starters.
One word of caution - you should never join because you want one specific job. Don't join because you want to be a traffic bobby, or a dog handler or a detective. You should join because you want to be a Police Officer first and foremost, because you've got a two year probationary period to get through, during which you're not allowed to specialise. It used to be the case that specialist departments wouldn't entertain applications from people until they had 5 years in, but it's not like that any more - reckon on 3 years service before you could move on from section work.
Having said that, section work can be some of the most interesting, challenging and varied work you'll ever do in th Police - I've gone back to it several times in my career so far and I've always enjoyed it.
If you want information on recruitment, entrance exams, interview techniques etc, then have a look here...
www.police-recruitment.com/one2/phpBB2/
One last thing I always say to people who are thinking of joining. The only way to find out if it's for you or not is to try it. It's a job which can't really be compared with anything else, and you really have to do it full time to get a feel for what it's like. You see the worst side of society, you see things which turn your stomach, and you'll laugh like you've never done before. If you've got decent qualifications outside the Police, then you can always go back yo your old job if the Police isn't for you. I've plenty of respect for people who try it and decide it's not for them.
The only way for you to find out if it's for you is to go for it.
There are some disadvantages to joining late - you wouldn't get anything like a full Police pension for instance, although the pension regs have just changed, and could benefit late starters.
One word of caution - you should never join because you want one specific job. Don't join because you want to be a traffic bobby, or a dog handler or a detective. You should join because you want to be a Police Officer first and foremost, because you've got a two year probationary period to get through, during which you're not allowed to specialise. It used to be the case that specialist departments wouldn't entertain applications from people until they had 5 years in, but it's not like that any more - reckon on 3 years service before you could move on from section work.
Having said that, section work can be some of the most interesting, challenging and varied work you'll ever do in th Police - I've gone back to it several times in my career so far and I've always enjoyed it.
If you want information on recruitment, entrance exams, interview techniques etc, then have a look here...
www.police-recruitment.com/one2/phpBB2/
One last thing I always say to people who are thinking of joining. The only way to find out if it's for you or not is to try it. It's a job which can't really be compared with anything else, and you really have to do it full time to get a feel for what it's like. You see the worst side of society, you see things which turn your stomach, and you'll laugh like you've never done before. If you've got decent qualifications outside the Police, then you can always go back yo your old job if the Police isn't for you. I've plenty of respect for people who try it and decide it's not for them.
The only way for you to find out if it's for you is to go for it.
It's nothing like the telly. And the canteen culture is alive and well. Age has nothing to do with it and if you really want to go for it then good luck to you. Best thing is to make contact with your local nick and see if they do ride alongs. Better still, consider joining as a special and go from there.
HTH
HTH
Thank you for the very informative posts chaps.
The link to the site is very interesting and answers a lot of questions.
I guess another imnportant factor will be to achieve a similar salary in a short space of time, not due to greed but essentially to cover existing commitments. So that is a concern but I think the career aspiration is the strong driver for me.
The link to the site is very interesting and answers a lot of questions.
I guess another imnportant factor will be to achieve a similar salary in a short space of time, not due to greed but essentially to cover existing commitments. So that is a concern but I think the career aspiration is the strong driver for me.
Kentish said:
Thank you for the very informative posts chaps.
The link to the site is very interesting and answers a lot of questions.
I guess another imnportant factor will be to achieve a similar salary in a short space of time, not due to greed but essentially to cover existing commitments. So that is a concern but I think the career aspiration is the strong driver for me.
The link to the site is very interesting and answers a lot of questions.
I guess another imnportant factor will be to achieve a similar salary in a short space of time, not due to greed but essentially to cover existing commitments. So that is a concern but I think the career aspiration is the strong driver for me.
Salaries increase by increments up to 10 years service for PCs and 5 years from promotion for Sergeants and Inspectors.
Top PC rate isn't too bad, and with allowances and extra payments, I'm earning more as a senior PC than newly promoted Sergeants.
If you want to get promoted, you have to pass a two-part exam, then act up at the next rank for a while before sitting a promotion board. Don't, however, fall into the trap of thinking that promotion is the be-all and end-all of a Police career - it isn't. Getting promoted severely limits your opportunities for specialising, and if you're interested in traffic, you should go for that as a PC. Being a career Constable is a good option - it's one I've taken so far and I've had some very interesting jobs because of it. I am considering the exam now though, as I'd rather retire on a Sergeants pension than a PCs one.
If you have an established job that is seeing your OK with the prospects then to me you are are a bit long in the tooth for becoming a PC. You have 12 years to climb many rungs in the Police Service and those are very slippery and hard to get a foot hold unless exceptional ability. Yours would be a short time for it to become a vocation and they do not want them as a vacation.
By what you say your just the bloke they are looking for as a Special - give it a whirl as see what you think.
dvd
By what you say your just the bloke they are looking for as a Special - give it a whirl as see what you think.
dvd
7db said:
Ideal age to sign up and then go off sick for a few years, although the fire service is better for that if you can get in.
I'm not sure whether to be bemused or insulted
No, that's not my style at all - I have never had any lengthy sick leave during my entire working life and I don't have this in mind as an easy life. Quite the opposite, the money will be a lot less than I'm used to and the hours antisocial.
I've discovered that currently my two more local forces aren't recruiting so I'll have to wait anyway but that'll give me more time to discuss at home and with my B-in-L who joined about 18 months ago. He's young (about 23) and therefore can't give advice on the pros & cons for a mature applicant. However, he drifted before he joined and now he has matured a lot and has a good sense of direction, he loves it!
Dwight VanDriver said:
If you have an established job that is seeing your OK with the prospects then to me you are are a bit long in the tooth for becoming a PC. You have 12 years to climb many rungs in the Police Service and those are very slippery and hard to get a foot hold unless exceptional ability. Yours would be a short time for it to become a vocation and they do not want them as a vacation.
By what you say your just the bloke they are looking for as a Special - give it a whirl as see what you think.
dvd
By what you say your just the bloke they are looking for as a Special - give it a whirl as see what you think.
dvd
There is the HPD scheme once in?
Regarding a special, I think I'd want to give it my all rather than have two careers and my job at the moment would not allow me to work elsewhere concurrently. I agree it is probably a good idea if I was uncertain whether it is for me but I think I know once application and salary logistics are set aside it is a choice I'd view as my long term career.
What is the maximum serving age now, can't seem to find that info?
I would be concerned that it may be a short lived career if compulsory retirement is 50 for example but if it is optional to carry on until a more regular retirement age then it may well be worth it.
Kentish said:
R_U_LOCAL said:
Which part of the country are you based in? And where would you be prepared to move to? Forces keep recruitment dates close to their chest, but I know of a couple that are coming up soon.
Thanks RUL.
I'm in Kent and would ideally like to join here.
Ah, I'm oop north, but I'll see what I can find out.
R_U_LOCAL said:
Kentish said:
R_U_LOCAL said:
Which part of the country are you based in? And where would you be prepared to move to? Forces keep recruitment dates close to their chest, but I know of a couple that are coming up soon.
Thanks RUL.
I'm in Kent and would ideally like to join here.
Ah, I'm oop north, but I'll see what I can find out.
Thank you, I much appreciate your help.
Kentish said:
What is the maximum serving age now, can't seem to find that info?
I would be concerned that it may be a short lived career if compulsory retirement is 50 for example but if it is optional to carry on until a more regular retirement age then it may well be worth it.
You can retire at 55 , you should retire at 60 (if Supt or above you can go to 65).
Even that can be postponed though on authority of the Chief Officer for Supt & under, or by the Police authority for ranks above Supt.
True.
I worked shifts until I was 45, and it nearly killed me.
If you have a good job and are financially secure for goodness sake don't give all that up and join the police.
If you have spare time become a special, and see what you make of it first.
I wouldn't recommend the Police as a career to anyone least of all a man in your position.
I worked shifts until I was 45, and it nearly killed me.
If you have a good job and are financially secure for goodness sake don't give all that up and join the police.
If you have spare time become a special, and see what you make of it first.
I wouldn't recommend the Police as a career to anyone least of all a man in your position.
chrispy porker said:
True.
I worked shifts until I was 45, and it nearly killed me.
If you have a good job and are financially secure for goodness sake don't give all that up and join the police.
If you have spare time become a special, and see what you make of it first.
I wouldn't recommend the Police as a career to anyone least of all a man in your position.
I worked shifts until I was 45, and it nearly killed me.
If you have a good job and are financially secure for goodness sake don't give all that up and join the police.
If you have spare time become a special, and see what you make of it first.
I wouldn't recommend the Police as a career to anyone least of all a man in your position.
Agree.
vonhosen said:
chrispy porker said:
True.
I worked shifts until I was 45, and it nearly killed me.
If you have a good job and are financially secure for goodness sake don't give all that up and join the police.
If you have spare time become a special, and see what you make of it first.
I wouldn't recommend the Police as a career to anyone least of all a man in your position.
I worked shifts until I was 45, and it nearly killed me.
If you have a good job and are financially secure for goodness sake don't give all that up and join the police.
If you have spare time become a special, and see what you make of it first.
I wouldn't recommend the Police as a career to anyone least of all a man in your position.
Agree.
Thirded.
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