Becoming a copper?
Discussion
Alright chaps,
These last few days I've been toying with the idea of casting of the shackles of science and joining the police. I've had a fair amount of experience dealing with resolute w
kers, I'm fairly intelligent and the only real reason I've not considered it earlier is because of personal prejudices.
So I consulting the hive brain of PH... Is the police a good career? I understand the task will be largely thankless and I will alienated by some of my associates but it is steady work that will get me out of the office/lab with room for promotion.
The application looks somewhat of a nightmare with lots of open ended questions that could easily dash my chances.
Can anybody offer any advice? General or about filling in the application?
These last few days I've been toying with the idea of casting of the shackles of science and joining the police. I've had a fair amount of experience dealing with resolute w
kers, I'm fairly intelligent and the only real reason I've not considered it earlier is because of personal prejudices.So I consulting the hive brain of PH... Is the police a good career? I understand the task will be largely thankless and I will alienated by some of my associates but it is steady work that will get me out of the office/lab with room for promotion.
The application looks somewhat of a nightmare with lots of open ended questions that could easily dash my chances.
Can anybody offer any advice? General or about filling in the application?
Yeah I looked at the MoD police too but the problem is, although I've not ruled it out entirely, I need to stay in Scotland for the time being.
I understand what you mean in terms of commitment. I think I'll be buying some of these "so you to join the filth?" books from amazon and reading it thoroughly as well as speaking to any coppers I know. I don't intend to do anything "on a whim".
I understand what you mean in terms of commitment. I think I'll be buying some of these "so you to join the filth?" books from amazon and reading it thoroughly as well as speaking to any coppers I know. I don't intend to do anything "on a whim".
G_T said:
Yeah I looked at the MoD police too but the problem is, although I've not ruled it out entirely, I need to stay in Scotland for the time being.
I believe that although you will have to do the 3 and half months training in Essex (accommodation is supplied) you can apply to do the further 2 years probation in Firth (accommodation not supplied) although obviously I don't know if that's of any use too you.
edmellor said:
G_T said:
Yeah I looked at the MoD police too but the problem is, although I've not ruled it out entirely, I need to stay in Scotland for the time being.
I believe that although you will have to do the 3 and half months training in Essex (accommodation is supplied) you can apply to do the further 2 years probation in Firth (accommodation not supplied) although obviously I don't know if that's of any use too you.
Thanks though. I'll just have to have a good think about relocating if I decide to apply.
dan1981 said:
Is your local force actually accepting applicants?
Last time i looked at which forces were the list was quite a short one.
Yeah according to the website they are. With only 43 open positions in the whole of England/Wales I imagine it will fill up relatively quickly though.Last time i looked at which forces were the list was quite a short one.
I'm hoping I can get a letter of recommendation from someone fairly important to try and give me a better chance of being accepted for an interview.
If you are applying to a English force then no letters, whoever from, will push your application form to the top. Apply online/ in writing same as everyone else does, making sure you get as much into the form as possible, and then fingers crossed.
If you pass the paper sift ( spelling and grammar count for a lot), then you will be off for a fitness test. 5.4 on the bleep plus a push/pull exercise.
Pass that and its off to an assessment centre for half a day of role play, exams, interviews and planning exercises.
Then its the medical and CBR checks
Then 22 weeks of classroom training followed by 10 weeks under tuition before hitting the streets on your own.
It took me 20 months from filling in the application form to my first day of training, then another 32 weeks before i was out on my own.
The job isn't for everyone. Alot of the time the job is frustrating - not enough time, too many jobs to go to, not enough resources, very weak court results etc, but it has its moments. Some parts of the job are not nice - imagine knocking on someone's door at 3am to tell them their child is dead - not nice, but you have to be professional, or making a cup of tea for the bloke who raped his daughter, that type of thing, but its all part of the job.
I have been in for over a year now, and still go to work most days enjoying it. There can be some brilliant challenges, which do make it worthwhile.
Any questions regarding application process - message me by all means.
If you pass the paper sift ( spelling and grammar count for a lot), then you will be off for a fitness test. 5.4 on the bleep plus a push/pull exercise.
Pass that and its off to an assessment centre for half a day of role play, exams, interviews and planning exercises.
Then its the medical and CBR checks
Then 22 weeks of classroom training followed by 10 weeks under tuition before hitting the streets on your own.
It took me 20 months from filling in the application form to my first day of training, then another 32 weeks before i was out on my own.
The job isn't for everyone. Alot of the time the job is frustrating - not enough time, too many jobs to go to, not enough resources, very weak court results etc, but it has its moments. Some parts of the job are not nice - imagine knocking on someone's door at 3am to tell them their child is dead - not nice, but you have to be professional, or making a cup of tea for the bloke who raped his daughter, that type of thing, but its all part of the job.
I have been in for over a year now, and still go to work most days enjoying it. There can be some brilliant challenges, which do make it worthwhile.
Any questions regarding application process - message me by all means.
Yes, 5.4 is a joke, then again so is the push/pull, but its designed for men and women, young and old, so has to be of appropriate level. When you apply for dive team or firearms its up to 11, which is a bit harder. Im running 9s at the moment but getting better.
If you know anyone in the job ask them to look over your application form especially the diversity and equality questions, as they are the ones most scrutinised.
If you know anyone in the job ask them to look over your application form especially the diversity and equality questions, as they are the ones most scrutinised.
Do you have any suggestions for that? I've read that before and been baffled. Other than being an adovacate of gay rights and racial equality I've no idea what to write?
Also, and off topic, I notice you have an Almera GTi how are you getting on with it? Only I was looking at downsizing to one and they seem a bargain at circa £1000...
Also, and off topic, I notice you have an Almera GTi how are you getting on with it? Only I was looking at downsizing to one and they seem a bargain at circa £1000...
Off topic bit first - Had Almera Gti, sold it awhile back - was going to fail MOT. In 4yrs it cost me peanuts in parts or repairs. They eat front tyres, but handle well and are bulletproof. Only got shot as mine needed 2 CV boots, 4 discs, pads, cat and other bits - not worth the cost of repairs for MOT.
For the questions - think of situations where you have dealt with diversity - have you dealt with people from different backgrounds, religions, languages, disabilities, etc. Just think about how you treated them, the reasons why, and anything you did differently to deal with the differences. I had dealt with people from different religions, languages, sexuality, and culture, and wrote at length of the things i did to deal with the situations i was in (was a prison officer) and why i did what i did.
For the questions - think of situations where you have dealt with diversity - have you dealt with people from different backgrounds, religions, languages, disabilities, etc. Just think about how you treated them, the reasons why, and anything you did differently to deal with the differences. I had dealt with people from different religions, languages, sexuality, and culture, and wrote at length of the things i did to deal with the situations i was in (was a prison officer) and why i did what i did.
gti tim said:
If you are applying to a English force then no letters, whoever from, will push your application form to the top. Apply online/ in writing same as everyone else does, making sure you get as much into the form as possible, and then fingers crossed.
If you pass the paper sift ( spelling and grammar count for a lot), then you will be off for a fitness test. 5.4 on the bleep plus a push/pull exercise.
Pass that and its off to an assessment centre for half a day of role play, exams, interviews and planning exercises.
Then its the medical and CBR checks
Then 22 weeks of classroom training followed by 10 weeks under tuition before hitting the streets on your own.
It took me 20 months from filling in the application form to my first day of training, then another 32 weeks before i was out on my own.
The job isn't for everyone. Alot of the time the job is frustrating - not enough time, too many jobs to go to, not enough resources, very weak court results etc, but it has its moments. Some parts of the job are not nice - imagine knocking on someone's door at 3am to tell them their child is dead - not nice, but you have to be professional, or making a cup of tea for the bloke who raped his daughter, that type of thing, but its all part of the job.
I have been in for over a year now, and still go to work most days enjoying it. There can be some brilliant challenges, which do make it worthwhile.
Any questions regarding application process - message me by all means.
Sorry is that a typo?If you pass the paper sift ( spelling and grammar count for a lot), then you will be off for a fitness test. 5.4 on the bleep plus a push/pull exercise.
Pass that and its off to an assessment centre for half a day of role play, exams, interviews and planning exercises.
Then its the medical and CBR checks
Then 22 weeks of classroom training followed by 10 weeks under tuition before hitting the streets on your own.
It took me 20 months from filling in the application form to my first day of training, then another 32 weeks before i was out on my own.
The job isn't for everyone. Alot of the time the job is frustrating - not enough time, too many jobs to go to, not enough resources, very weak court results etc, but it has its moments. Some parts of the job are not nice - imagine knocking on someone's door at 3am to tell them their child is dead - not nice, but you have to be professional, or making a cup of tea for the bloke who raped his daughter, that type of thing, but its all part of the job.
I have been in for over a year now, and still go to work most days enjoying it. There can be some brilliant challenges, which do make it worthwhile.
Any questions regarding application process - message me by all means.
Taita said:
fking rediculous imo. Should have 6 monthly fitness checks for all 'front line' coppers. ie unless you are a desk jockey you should be able to run 1.5m in less than 14 minutes etc.
Kind of agree, some of the lot I see on 'the beat' I could outrun with ease, not to mention overpower if needed be.king rediculous imo. Should have 6 monthly fitness checks for all 'front line' coppers. ie unless you are a desk jockey you should be able to run 1.5m in less than 14 minutes etc.Its certainly worth having a look at, what I've found is it takes a year or more just the application process and before that you've got to attend a recruitment evening. Which depending how busy can be once every six months with my local one if your not on the list being sometime next year!
Cheers for that Tim. I'm going to take your advice, do the best I can and then pass it on to someone for review. We'll just see how it goes from there I guess.
I'll also add an Almera to the "maybe" pile.
The Lothian Borders police state that they include a timed 1.5 mile run as part of their assessment. I would like to think this is under 15 minutes but I somehow doubt it if 5.4 on the bleep test is supposed to be comparable.
Also, I could be wrong here, but I don't think all police are employed on the basis of their ability to outrun and wrestle criminals. I'm sure diplomatic and communication skills are equally important and probably far more used. Brains over brawn and all that... Of course I'm sure you'll always need a few blokes like that for when the need arises.
I'll also add an Almera to the "maybe" pile.
okgo said:
Taita said:
fking rediculous imo. Should have 6 monthly fitness checks for all 'front line' coppers. ie unless you are a desk jockey you should be able to run 1.5m in less than 14 minutes etc.
Kind of agree, some of the lot I see on 'the beat' I could outrun with ease, not to mention overpower if needed be.king rediculous imo. Should have 6 monthly fitness checks for all 'front line' coppers. ie unless you are a desk jockey you should be able to run 1.5m in less than 14 minutes etc.Also, I could be wrong here, but I don't think all police are employed on the basis of their ability to outrun and wrestle criminals. I'm sure diplomatic and communication skills are equally important and probably far more used. Brains over brawn and all that... Of course I'm sure you'll always need a few blokes like that for when the need arises.
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