Joining the Police
Discussion
I can see where he's coming from, I'm not a police officer but work in an environment that's very similar. I used to love the job, but after years of minimal/no pay rises, more and more additional tasks added to the job description with no renumeration, some officers taking the mick, more and more expected of you and less staff, it's getting to the stage retirement in 6 years can't come soon enough. Leaving is not an option as there is very little opportunities for a person with my skill set away from the motorway network, plus there is nothing that pays anything like my current salary.
The Mad Monk said:
A while back, I was speaking to a fairly recently retired policeman. I asked him if he had enjoyed his time - he said "the first 15 years were brilliant, the second 15 years I couldn't wait for it to be over.
What happened, or when the first 15 years finished, i don't know.
I can understand that.What happened, or when the first 15 years finished, i don't know.
Early in your career everything is new and exciting and it’s the time that you amass your skills.
By year 15 I’d been trained in the following, which are over and above the relevant skills as a uniformed officer.
Basic car driving
Response car driving
Carrier (riot van) driving
Advanced car
TPAC
Solo motorcycle
Public order (Riot training)
Method of Entry
I’d met Buster Edwards, both at his flower stall at Waterloo station and in the mortuary at St. Tommies hospital. I’d patrolled around Docklands after it was bombed, heard the Aldwych IRA bomb explode ( worked at Kennington nick at the time) and was one of the first officers on scene.
I stood outside Buckingham Palace dealing with crowd control following the death of Princess Diana.
I was at the Paddington Train crash, policed May Day Riots, had bricks lobbed at me by Millwall “fans” when they rioted in 2002 and was among numerous first responders during 7/7, I ended in Tavistock Square where the bus was bombed.
That’s over and above daily relief duties in Lambeth in the late 90’s and from 2004 dealing with countless fatal collisions as a traffic officer.
You see and do quite a lot in your first 15 years.
After that it’s just more of the same. Most officers had found their place in their force by then, whatever that is, uniform relief, firearms, public order, CID etc.
You start to get jaded by various aspects of police life. Politics, colleagues who don’t pull their weight, inefficient supervisors, you’ve had earache off the missus again because your rest day is cancelled and you can’t go to Uncle Pete’s 60th birthday or parents evening.
Then comes along Windsor, pension changes, direct entry colleagues. You can’t get a decent uninterrupted refs break because canteens and entire nicks are being closed, and public reaction to officers eating in public isn’t universally positive.
At 15 years in your pension is building, you’ve probably got a big mortgage, especially in my part of the world and possibly kids. It’s a brave officer who jacks it all in at that point. Many just plod along until retirement.
Goalpost has changed there too. 30 years was full pension. Now it’s 60 years of age.
I understand the 15/15 split. I took promotion just after this point of my service to avoid this trap.
Emily's dad said:
The Mad Monk said:
A while back, I was speaking to a fairly recently retired policeman. I asked him if he had enjoyed his time - he said "the first 15 years were brilliant, the second 15 years I couldn't wait for it to be over.
What happened, or when the first 15 years finished, i don't know.
I can understand that.What happened, or when the first 15 years finished, i don't know.
Early in your career everything is new and exciting and it’s the time that you amass your skills.
By year 15 I’d been trained in the following, which are over and above the relevant skills as a uniformed officer.
Basic car driving
Response car driving
Carrier (riot van) driving
Advanced car
TPAC
Solo motorcycle
Public order (Riot training)
Method of Entry
I’d met Buster Edwards, both at his flower stall at Waterloo station and in the mortuary at St. Tommies hospital. I’d patrolled around Docklands after it was bombed, heard the Aldwych IRA bomb explode ( worked at Kennington nick at the time) and was one of the first officers on scene.
I stood outside Buckingham Palace dealing with crowd control following the death of Princess Diana.
I was at the Paddington Train crash, policed May Day Riots, had bricks lobbed at me by Millwall “fans” when they rioted in 2002 and was among numerous first responders during 7/7, I ended in Tavistock Square where the bus was bombed.
That’s over and above daily relief duties in Lambeth in the late 90’s and from 2004 dealing with countless fatal collisions as a traffic officer.
You see and do quite a lot in your first 15 years.
After that it’s just more of the same. Most officers had found their place in their force by then, whatever that is, uniform relief, firearms, public order, CID etc.
You start to get jaded by various aspects of police life. Politics, colleagues who don’t pull their weight, inefficient supervisors, you’ve had earache off the missus again because your rest day is cancelled and you can’t go to Uncle Pete’s 60th birthday or parents evening.
Then comes along Windsor, pension changes, direct entry colleagues. You can’t get a decent uninterrupted refs break because canteens and entire nicks are being closed, and public reaction to officers eating in public isn’t universally positive.
At 15 years in your pension is building, you’ve probably got a big mortgage, especially in my part of the world and possibly kids. It’s a brave officer who jacks it all in at that point. Many just plod along until retirement.
Goalpost has changed there too. 30 years was full pension. Now it’s 60 years of age.
I understand the 15/15 split. I took promotion just after this point of my service to avoid this trap.
Mine was similar to what you suggest, only for the second 15 I was in a highly specialist role, that most here would probably consider a dream job & despite continually gaining further specialist skills/qualifications 'the job' connection still resulted in me becoming jaded with it all & wishing to get out & draw the pension.
Post retirement I've still ended up working in these specialist areas, but now self employed (working only when I want to), for more money & greater variety from a wider range of clients.
On balance the job was very good to me, but I'm glad I'm no longer a 'constable'.
Very similar to me VH except I’m still in (24yrs). First 16 I did front line, response and RP in a busy area. After that I dived across to training which was initially to give me better work/life balance as I had kids. I’ve moved on to a different area of training but still in the job. Thankfully my current role is very detached from actual Policing. It’s this role that will see me through, as I have at least 12 to do, possibly 17 
wiliferus said:
Very similar to me VH except I’m still in (24yrs). First 16 I did front line, response and RP in a busy area. After that I dived across to training which was initially to give me better work/life balance as I had kids. I’ve moved on to a different area of training but still in the job. Thankfully my current role is very detached from actual Policing. It’s this role that will see me through, as I have at least 12 to do, possibly 17
You wot, mate ? You've got 24 in with another 17 to do ? 41 years in total, how did that happen ?Red 4 said:
wiliferus said:
Very similar to me VH except I’m still in (24yrs). First 16 I did front line, response and RP in a busy area. After that I dived across to training which was initially to give me better work/life balance as I had kids. I’ve moved on to a different area of training but still in the job. Thankfully my current role is very detached from actual Policing. It’s this role that will see me through, as I have at least 12 to do, possibly 17
You wot, mate ? You've got 24 in with another 17 to do ? 41 years in total, how did that happen ?You used to be able to draw a full pension after 30 years service, so potentially retire at 48 years of age.
Now you can’t get full pension until 60 years of age.
Changes were introduced retrospectively, so many officers are facing additional years worked to get a now reduced pension.
Emily's dad said:
Red 4 said:
wiliferus said:
Very similar to me VH except I’m still in (24yrs). First 16 I did front line, response and RP in a busy area. After that I dived across to training which was initially to give me better work/life balance as I had kids. I’ve moved on to a different area of training but still in the job. Thankfully my current role is very detached from actual Policing. It’s this role that will see me through, as I have at least 12 to do, possibly 17
You wot, mate ? You've got 24 in with another 17 to do ? 41 years in total, how did that happen ?You used to be able to draw a full pension after 30 years service, so potentially retire at 48 years of age.
Now you can’t get full pension until 60 years of age.
Changes were introduced retrospectively, so many officers are facing additional years worked to get a now reduced pension.
I left in 2015 with 24 years in due to injury on duty with a bigger pension than I would have received after 30 years service due to the Injury Regs. These will probably be next on the gov hit list ! Glad I'm out tbh.
Personally my last 15 were probably my most varied. I was the usual core shift / area car / PSUthen after 13 yrs took a busy neighborhood beat on though was still called for to cover Pandas and area car so kept my eye in for reactive Policing. The neighbourhood hours allowed me to get involved in football policing and I was a 'spotter' for our local league side, policing home and away games. Tedious at times but a change from day to day policing. Due to staff shortages I completed a controllers course back in the old local control room days.(got me my PNC ticket - the main reason for volunteering) Still did my share of weekend Public order van postings at the local divisional nick. Neighbourhood Policing was interesting and varied then - we'd help out in each others beats when one got hit with crime. With 4 1/2 years left to go I was transferred onto a newly formed beat crimes unit. Pretty much a detections machine back then, but got involved in work i'd never had a chance to do without transferring to CID - legal visits to inmates, drive rounds etc. decent interview courses etc Massive workloads but worked with a great team and finished as Acting Sgt on the unit for my final year Retired at midnight on my 49th birthday, and went back in as a civvy investigator and then onto crime management. Never recall counting the days down to retirement - though certainly wasnt sorry to leave. Clearly everybody would have had different experiences
Edited by Bigends on Sunday 4th July 14:50
Emily's dad said:
Red 4 said:
wiliferus said:
Very similar to me VH except I’m still in (24yrs). First 16 I did front line, response and RP in a busy area. After that I dived across to training which was initially to give me better work/life balance as I had kids. I’ve moved on to a different area of training but still in the job. Thankfully my current role is very detached from actual Policing. It’s this role that will see me through, as I have at least 12 to do, possibly 17
You wot, mate ? You've got 24 in with another 17 to do ? 41 years in total, how did that happen ?You used to be able to draw a full pension after 30 years service, so potentially retire at 48 years of age.
Now you can’t get full pension until 60 years of age.
Changes were introduced retrospectively, so many officers are facing additional years worked to get a now reduced pension.
I’ve been through the cycle… anger, disbelief, sorrow… theres feck all I can do about it, so I’ve hit the stage of making the job work for me. If I play my cards right I’ll never be public facing again
wiliferus said:
Yea this. I joined at 19, so when the pension changes came I got no protection based on age. Worse case is I got until I’m 60. With the recent ruling and maybe going back on the 87 scheme till next year, I might, just might be able to make the maths work to let me go at 55, failing that it’ll be 60.
I’ve been through the cycle… anger, disbelief, sorrow… theres feck all I can do about it, so I’ve hit the stage of making the job work for me. If I play me cards right I’ll never be public facing again
Thanks for the reply and explanation. Yes, hopefully it won't end up quite as bad for you given the recent ruling. I’ve been through the cycle… anger, disbelief, sorrow… theres feck all I can do about it, so I’ve hit the stage of making the job work for me. If I play me cards right I’ll never be public facing again
On another note, wasn't Winsor pushing for 'Commissions'" in his much revered report ?
I can see medium term contracts in the future. It saves on costs and adds to the policing on the cheap mantra that has been pushed by govt for the last decade.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
No it'll be go off 6 months, come back 1 week and repeat all the way upto 60th birthday. It'll be rife. Cops playing the system back.
Not just like it is now but on an industrial scale.
I think the sickness tally applies over a 2 year cumulative period.Not just like it is now but on an industrial scale.
I certainly know some officers who've been reduced to half pay due to their sickness record (it's at The Chief's discretion).
The Fed provide a scheme to make up your pay for an additional 3/6 months (I forget which it is).
It could be worse I suppose. Civil Nuclear Police have to pass firearms and firearms fitness tests until they are 60 now. If they don't then it's Adiós Amigo and pension deferred.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Red 4 said:
Yup. Just increase fitness standards. Job jobbed.
You'd lose half the 20 somethings from the job.And I'm not kidding.
Winsor wants/ wanted the PSNI fitness test to be introduced in E&W. I think the writing may be on the wall. Just not yet. I take your point though.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Red 4 said:
Yup. Just increase fitness standards. Job jobbed.
You'd lose half the 20 somethings from the job.And I'm not kidding.
XCP said:
Quite honestly I have no idea why anyone would consider joining these days. Apparently there are tutors with 2 years ( or maybe less) in these days.
Yep. I was talking to someone from another nick the other day. He was the most experienced bobby on his shift. He had 2 years service The new PCDA egree scheme is a disaster. A significant number of 18yr olds who think it's a university course with a bit of Police work experience tacked on. The work ethic of some is appalling. If this is the future, it doesn't look good
Edited by Elroy Blue on Sunday 4th July 18:42
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