Joining the Police

[LosingGrip]

megaphone said:

I was under the impression you couldn't apply for more than one force at a time?

I think what happens is the MET ask for my assessment centre result, I then have to inform Dorset I'm withdrawing and then continue with the MET.

It was a bit confusing. I phoned the MET HR team last week and got told its not likely to be possible, but they will get back to me. Phoned again today and spoke to someone who said I need to start my application with the MET and then wait for them to ask for my assessment centre result.

[Loyly]

wjb said:

So what would you call a direct entry inspector then? What about a direct entry superintendent?

'Mate' or simply nothing, I should imagine

[Greendubber]

Loyly said:

wjb said:

So what would you call a direct entry inspector then? What about a direct entry superintendent?

'Mate' or simply nothing, I should imagine

Hmmmm, respect the rank but not the person.

I'd always address them as their rank, after all these sneering little fast track sts don't need any more ammo to try and sheet people on their slippery climb to greatness

[Red 4]

LosingGrip said:

Well I've changed my mind a few times this year...

Just sent my application to the MET. Because I've already passed an assessment centre within the last two years (strange that Dorset only keep it for a year) I should be able to go straight to day two which is a medical/fitness test.

Should hear later this week (well email says 'within a week or so').

Also got a email from Dorset last week saying they are looking to hold final interviews towards the end of January (I emailed them in September for an update...). See what the MET say and go from there

The Met ? Really ?

Have you thought about the practicalities of moving to London - increased cost of living, etc etc.

I'd wait for Dorset to get their finger out. January isn't that far away.

If I had a list of police forces I'd recommend joining, even though it would be a very short list, The Met would be at the bottom of it.

[LosingGrip]

Yep I've looked into it all.

January isn't that far away, but then I'll have to wait for the start date etc.

[defblade]

So, reading through the Specials application info:

info said:

Tips to prepare for the interview:
- Visit your local station and speak to Special Constables about what they do

Is that really as simple as rocking up to the desk and saying "hello", or is there anyone in particular it'd be best to contact?

[LosingGrip]

What force are you looking at applying for? Feel free to PM me if you don't want to say publicly. Lots of serving officers have work Twitter accounts which can be a good place to start .

[Sa Calobra]

Greendubber said:

Hmmmm, respect the rank but not the person.

I'd always address them as their rank, after all these sneering little fast track sts don't need any more ammo to try and sheet people on their slippery climb to greatness

This isn't band of Brothers with that line..


I say 'good morning'.

You don't greet someone you don't know as mate or pal.

If you know them you call them by their first name anyway.

I wouldn't mind if they came from a strategic and dynamic organisation externally. That I can get. But another public sector organisation or staid ex public sector or BT. No.

The whole point is to inject new thinking and business expertise not another public sector bod.

[Bigends]

defblade said:

So, reading through the Specials application info:

info said:

Tips to prepare for the interview:
- Visit your local station and speak to Special Constables about what they do

Is that really as simple as rocking up to the desk and saying "hello", or is there anyone in particular it'd be best to contact?

Look on the force website - there should be a section on there for the Specials. It may be worth dropping a line on their their Twitter account

[defblade]

LosingGrip said:

What force are you looking at applying for? Feel free to PM me if you don't want to say publicly. Lots of serving officers have work Twitter accounts which can be a good place to start .

Bigends said:

Look on the force website - there should be a section on there for the Specials. It may be worth dropping a line on their their Twitter account

Dyfed-Powys, it is.
Preferably Carmarthenshire, as that's where I live.
On that note - when it says "why did you apply to this force?", is it reasonable to say, basically, "Because I live here."


Looks like Twitter's the place, then. A good time to learn new skills already as I've got an account but never actively used it

As it happens, I've got a (fairly high up) contact from when I attend a meet-and-greet for Direct Entry, so I guess I'll start there.

[wjb]

Greendubber said:

Loyly said:

wjb said:

So what would you call a direct entry inspector then? What about a direct entry superintendent?

'Mate' or simply nothing, I should imagine

Hmmmm, respect the rank but not the person.

I'd always address them as their rank, after all these sneering little fast track sts don't need any more ammo to try and sheet people on their slippery climb to greatness

Don't sit on the fence will you?

I know someone who's on it, she's gone from DC to patrol inspector in about 2 years, and to be fair they are ok.

Edited by wjb on Monday 19th November 20:12

[Greendubber]

wjb said:

Greendubber said:

Loyly said:

wjb said:

So what would you call a direct entry inspector then? What about a direct entry superintendent?

'Mate' or simply nothing, I should imagine

Hmmmm, respect the rank but not the person.

I'd always address them as their rank, after all these sneering little fast track sts don't need any more ammo to try and sheet people on their slippery climb to greatness

Don't sit on the fence will you?

I know someone who's on it, she's gone from DC to patrol inspector in about 2 years, and to be fair they are ok.

Edited by wjb on Monday 19th November 20:12

So Sgt, probably the best rank to be in the police, one where you really learn to manage the troops slipped her by pretty quick. What a waste, it's where supervisors cut their teeth whilst still being grounded. Shame she's missed out on that.

I'm a public order TAC, it's like pulling teeth working with a bronze who has never actually had any experience of policing public order operations, never ran a serial on a PSU etc.

[defblade]

Application for the Specials is in.
Now just have to wait and see if I can even give myself away

[Red 4]

defblade said:

Application for the Specials is in.
Now just have to wait and see if I can even give myself away

May I be so bold as to ask why you want to join the Specials ?

Just interested in policing (want to know what really goes on/ see if it's for you) ?
Community spirit ?
Stepping stone to the Regulars ?
Uniform fetish ?

Genuinely interested ...

[Sa Calobra]

Some at our place do it for a warrant card and uniform.

A few come out on response to actually do the job.

[Prohibiting]

I was a special. I resigned after realising I didn't want to be a paid officer. I have mixed feelings about my short time as a special (4 months).

Personally I'd only recommend it if you actually want to be an officer. Don't kid yourself that you're doing it for the community etc. Yes the uniform is cool, but the novelty wears off after a couple of months and trying to squeeze it around a full time job (plus a family/girlfriend/dog) is a nightmare. This is coming from a fit energetic 28 year old.

Glad I stuck to my Mon-Fri cosy sales job, plus a lot better paid. I still have big respect for the Forces though.

Edited by Prohibiting on Monday 3rd December 21:58

[Sa Calobra]

Prohibiting said:

I was a special. I resigned after realising I didn't want to be a paid officer. I have mixed feelings about my short time as a special (4 months).

Personally I'd only recommend it if you actually want to be an officer. Don't kid yourself that you're doing it for the community etc. Yes the uniform is cool, but the novelty wears off after a couple of months and trying to squeeze it around a full time job (plus a family/girlfriend/dog) is a nightmare. This is coming from a fit energetic 28 year old.

Glad I stuck to my Mon-Fri cosy sales job, plus a lot better paid. I still have big respect for the Forces though.

Edited by Prohibiting on Monday 3rd December 21:58

What didn't you like about being a Special?

You get best of both worlds and on response without the resulting paperwork.

[Red 4]

Prohibiting said:

I have mixed feelings about my short time as a special (4 months).

Come on, spill the beans.

What were the good things/ bad things/ pros and cons from your perspective ?

[defblade]

Red 4 said:

May I be so bold as to ask why you want to join the Specials ?

Just interested in policing (want to know what really goes on/ see if it's for you) ?
Community spirit ?
Stepping stone to the Regulars ?
Uniform fetish ?

Genuinely interested ...

Ok.

Funnily enough, the form asks the same question. I didn't get as such space there as I do here...

I have always wanted to join the police. Until they changed the eyesight requirements a couple of years back (removing the minimum standards uncorrected), my being very short sighted completely blocked any chance. Note: I have used soft contacts for years now, with no problems at all.

I had a go at Direct Entry Inspector as that would have allowed me to change careers completely - I'm earning about that now, and could not keep my house and support my family as I do now on a constable's wage if I went in on the bottom rung. I didn't get past the telephone interview, albeit narrowly. I am not applying as a boost for a new DE Inspector application - I'm fairly happy that I'm unlikely to to be able to evidence what they're looking for with my current job; and I'm not entirely sure I haven't dodged a bullet with all the tales of understaffing etc getting more and more frequent. At least I might be able to help with that a tiny bit on the front line!

I want to help people who need help, and stop people doing things they shouldn't be doing. I'm realistic that neither of those aims will be achieved very often, but that wouldn't/doesn't stop me wanting to try. I also like to be that background support and organisation that people don't even know is there yet makes things run smoothly - I feel that some of the best police work is that which stops problems occurring in the first place.

I have over 20 years experience as a Scout and Explorer Scout Leader, so regular volunteer work is no new thing for me.

My daughter is old enough now to be independent (17) which gives me more freedom; my wife knows how keen I am and supports me.

I'm pretty fed up with my work day-to-day, but have no realistic prospect of getting out of it, for at least the next ten years. I'd like to be doing something else; the bright side is that with my job I can afford in terms of both time and money to volunteer more.

And as critical as the serving officers on here have been regarding DE, they are massively positive about the Specials which makes me feel I would likely be welcomed and seen as someone useful... possibly the opposite of a successful DE candidate?

I like to solve problems and fix things and leave things in a better state than they were when I arrived - I think joining the police will provide great opportunities to do that.


Finally, as I said some posts ago, my wife noticed and said years ago that when I see trouble I run towards it, when everyone else is running away (or ignoring it).



I think I would make a good policeman; I will put my trust in the selection procedures to see if the police agree.

Now I've bared my soul, you lot can tell me if you think I'm on the right lines or not... I'd say be gentle, but that'd be a waste of typing

[LosingGrip]

Good luck Defblade! Be sure to keep us updated!

I'm still waiting to hear back from the Met regarding mine. When I sent mine off it said 'I'll hear back within a week or so'. Today is two weeks. When, if at all do I chase it up?

Still nothing about my final interview, but found out they have intakes in January and March. I'm guessing I won't be doing either of them as its way to close with medical/fitness between January and March.

At a Specials conference a few weeks ago, the C/Supt said they are planning two intakes of regulars a year and two for Specials. Looking at that, it looks like the intake won't be until 2020.

This pushes me even more to withdraw and go for the Met.

(I've also still got my theory test booked for a driving instructor going on as well).

Edited by LosingGrip on Sunday 27th January 12:05