Joining the Police
Discussion
Kaelic said:
I am probably the opposite of what the some of the retiring cops are doing, I am a Network/Cyber security full timer who is becoming a special at the ripe old age of 46!
One thing I would like to ask is what is the opinion of regulars on specials at the minute? I am hoping to be an asset rather than a hinderance but its going to be a steep learning curve for a couple of years but something I am looking forward to!
I am a similar age and have been thinking along similar lines recently (one of the reasons I ended up in this thread) as I do my day job with my eyes closed, am comfortable financially and don’t do much that is productive with my spare time.One thing I would like to ask is what is the opinion of regulars on specials at the minute? I am hoping to be an asset rather than a hinderance but its going to be a steep learning curve for a couple of years but something I am looking forward to!
It would be good to do something worthwhile and give something back. Learning new skills and gaining new experiences would be a bonus. Obviously, some of the reading in recent posts is sobering but at the same time shows that there is good to be done out there and, like Kaelic says, if we can take pressure off the regulars that can’t be a bad thing.
Like Kaelic, I would also be interested to know the opinion of regulars on specials at the minute?
I’m in Hertfordshire if that makes any difference…
You'll always get a mixed bag of opinions on specials. That shouldn't affect your decision to sign up or not. Some specialis are fantastic. They may not have the skills of an experienced 'reg', nor could they be expected to. But when working properly with an experienced colleague they are an asset.
The most important thing for a special to remember is that you're not there to enjoy yourself. Plenty of people resent going out with a special who wants to go to every job and see everything that is going on because that tends to make work that can hang around with the shift for weeks or months. The good ones appreciate that their regular colleagues have to manage a workload and that means measuring the pace. You could quickly become buried if you don't manage what you take on. So sit tight, let the jobs come to you rather than chasing them for a buzz.
The most important thing for a special to remember is that you're not there to enjoy yourself. Plenty of people resent going out with a special who wants to go to every job and see everything that is going on because that tends to make work that can hang around with the shift for weeks or months. The good ones appreciate that their regular colleagues have to manage a workload and that means measuring the pace. You could quickly become buried if you don't manage what you take on. So sit tight, let the jobs come to you rather than chasing them for a buzz.
I was an instructor to a group of experienced specials one weekend at HQ. They were a very pleasant bunch in the main and the fact that I was getting paid and they weren’t made me feel a bit embarrassed. I’d run a shift as an inspector in Brighton for a couple of years and there’s little doubt that their willingness, as a group, to support the regulars made me a strong supporter of the concept.
Their commandant, who’d got nearly 30 years in, had a sense of humour and was willing to stick up for his crew against regulars should he feel the need. He told a joke on the Saturday, after having his inhibitions loosened by alcohol.
A group of three people were queuing at the pearly gates and St Peter was questioning all of them.
‘What was your job?’ he asked the first.
‘I was a police officer,’ the bloke replied, with some pride.
‘What did you do?’
‘I was in CID, the Vice Squad, Soho, for 10 years.’
‘Nice try,’ said St P. ‘But we both know you’re at the wrong gate. Next.’
‘I was a uniformed police officer for all my career,’ said the second, with some pride. ‘I reached the rank of chief superintendent.’
‘So you didn’t do any police work then, but just took the credit for the hard work of others. Don’t try and cheat your way in. And you?’ he said, to the third.
‘I worked in an office, doing mundane stuff mostly, but I was a special since the age of 25, working at a number of police stations.’
‘That’s great, well done. You’re just the one I was waiting for.’
‘At last, I’m going to get some recognition for all the service and sacrifice I’ve given to my community over the years. Someone appreciates just how good we all are.’
‘It’s not that, mate. I’ve been here for an aeon and I’m dying for a pee. It’s that I need someone to watch the door for me.’
It’s fair to say it was a bit of a dig against regulars, but it’s fair to say I reckon many of us had it coming. We had two rapes, a serious assault and a mini riot in Brighton in the wee smalls one Saturday morning and we were struggling. A fire brigade pump had been on a call when it struck a car, causing it to burst into flame and incinerate the two inside. We needed diversions set up as cars were blocking the road, one nearly taking out an ambulance. The control room phoned specials and two arrived within minutes and two more a little later, arranging their own reliefs.
I think the joke against us was earned.
Their commandant, who’d got nearly 30 years in, had a sense of humour and was willing to stick up for his crew against regulars should he feel the need. He told a joke on the Saturday, after having his inhibitions loosened by alcohol.
A group of three people were queuing at the pearly gates and St Peter was questioning all of them.
‘What was your job?’ he asked the first.
‘I was a police officer,’ the bloke replied, with some pride.
‘What did you do?’
‘I was in CID, the Vice Squad, Soho, for 10 years.’
‘Nice try,’ said St P. ‘But we both know you’re at the wrong gate. Next.’
‘I was a uniformed police officer for all my career,’ said the second, with some pride. ‘I reached the rank of chief superintendent.’
‘So you didn’t do any police work then, but just took the credit for the hard work of others. Don’t try and cheat your way in. And you?’ he said, to the third.
‘I worked in an office, doing mundane stuff mostly, but I was a special since the age of 25, working at a number of police stations.’
‘That’s great, well done. You’re just the one I was waiting for.’
‘At last, I’m going to get some recognition for all the service and sacrifice I’ve given to my community over the years. Someone appreciates just how good we all are.’
‘It’s not that, mate. I’ve been here for an aeon and I’m dying for a pee. It’s that I need someone to watch the door for me.’
It’s fair to say it was a bit of a dig against regulars, but it’s fair to say I reckon many of us had it coming. We had two rapes, a serious assault and a mini riot in Brighton in the wee smalls one Saturday morning and we were struggling. A fire brigade pump had been on a call when it struck a car, causing it to burst into flame and incinerate the two inside. We needed diversions set up as cars were blocking the road, one nearly taking out an ambulance. The control room phoned specials and two arrived within minutes and two more a little later, arranging their own reliefs.
I think the joke against us was earned.
Kaelic said:
Some great but sobering reading in this thread.
I am probably the opposite of what the some of the retiring cops are doing, I am a Network/Cyber security full timer who is becoming a special at the ripe old age of 46!
When people have asked me why, I say why not? I work Monday-Friday full time (but from home) and with child all grown up its time to go and do something for my community, even if it's checking the local park is safe or something, but at least I will be doing some good with my spare time.
I know specials are a bit meh, but even if I am the second person in a normally single crewed car/van I can be there to help the regular or at least (hopefully) help ease the pressure on regulars.
Have a very close friend who went special > regular > arv and he was a big infulence, but I have no aspirations of ever going regular.
One thing I would like to ask is what is the opinion of regulars on specials at the minute? I am hoping to be an asset rather than a hinderance but its going to be a steep learning curve for a couple of years but something I am looking forward to!
Cheers and keep safe!
So have now attested and had two shifts out as a special.I am probably the opposite of what the some of the retiring cops are doing, I am a Network/Cyber security full timer who is becoming a special at the ripe old age of 46!
When people have asked me why, I say why not? I work Monday-Friday full time (but from home) and with child all grown up its time to go and do something for my community, even if it's checking the local park is safe or something, but at least I will be doing some good with my spare time.
I know specials are a bit meh, but even if I am the second person in a normally single crewed car/van I can be there to help the regular or at least (hopefully) help ease the pressure on regulars.
Have a very close friend who went special > regular > arv and he was a big infulence, but I have no aspirations of ever going regular.
One thing I would like to ask is what is the opinion of regulars on specials at the minute? I am hoping to be an asset rather than a hinderance but its going to be a steep learning curve for a couple of years but something I am looking forward to!
Cheers and keep safe!
All I can say is wow you dont see this sort of stuff as a "normal" person. First night was bonfire night and what started as a check up of all the organised events very quickly descended into supporting regulars on grade 1's.
Quick hightlights :
RTC hit and run and managing traffic (2nd unit on scene) at a roundabout after closing the road.
Multiple domestics, one where the regs put the door in with the big red key! Another where pissed up people decided to trash their own house and be utter cretins to each other.
Baby hurt at a bonfire when multiple drunk blokes kicked off and one fell into the baby's stroller crushing him.
Welfare checks at a couple of address'
Very drugged/drunk male who was in his boxers, got a bit of a kick in from someone and was very hurt but very aggressive with the regs trying to put him into the van to take him to hospital, later had to supervise him at the hospital as he was very agitated and becoming a problem for the staff.
Second shift was quieter and was mainly a missing from home (care home) but the kid came home looks obvious what he is doing but no-one was saying.... Then a couple of hours patrolling and then search for a wanted man, then finished off with some very drunk ladies causing trouble in the town centre.
Out tonight for my third shift looking forward to what the evening brings
But really what an eye opener this is an all I can say is the regulars have been so helpful and good to me so far (might be something to do with the donuts I brought in on my first shift!!)
Will update over time but so far all good the training was good and the help we are given as specials is really good.
keep us posted! 
Dibble said:
I wish I could post the summary logs on here for a week so that people could see what response cops are dealing with every time they go to work.
I reckon there'd be plenty of accusations of exaggeration/fabrication. Unless you've read them off the C&C system it's largely incredible, isn't it? Pothole said:
Dibble said:
I wish I could post the summary logs on here for a week so that people could see what response cops are dealing with every time they go to work.
I reckon there'd be plenty of accusations of exaggeration/fabrication. Unless you've read them off the C&C system it's largely incredible, isn't it? Just when you think you’ve heard it all, some bugger will prove you wrong.
wiliferus said:
I’ve got over two decades under my belt, and I still read stuff, and hear of jobs that make me shake my head and think ‘What the actual f..”
Just when you think you’ve heard it all, some bugger will prove you wrong.
This happens every day, several times a day when I am on duty. I constantly fight against other agencies to get them to do their own jobs and stop passing their demand and risk to the police. It’s a losing battle. The amount of a response cops work that is and should be absolutely nothing to do with the police is truly staggering.Just when you think you’ve heard it all, some bugger will prove you wrong.
We don’t need more cops, we just need other agencies to pull their weight and stop passing their work to the police. Oh and chief con stables who tell those other agencies where to go.
wiliferus said:
I’ve got over two decades under my belt, and I still read stuff, and hear of jobs that make me shake my head and think ‘What the actual f..”
Just when you think you’ve heard it all, some bugger will prove you wrong.
100%. I have been particularly shocked recently at the new and inventive ways people are offing themselves. Sad, and in many cases bizarre. Just when you think you’ve heard it all, some bugger will prove you wrong.
ED209 said:
This happens every day, several times a day when I am on duty. I constantly fight against other agencies to get them to do their own jobs and stop passing their demand and risk to the police. It’s a losing battle. The amount of a response cops work that is and should be absolutely nothing to do with the police is truly staggering.
We don’t need more cops, we just need other agencies to pull their weight and stop passing their work to the police. Oh and chief con stables who tell those other agencies where to go.
Response…where your work becomes our work! Saw that quote a while ago at work and it makes me laugh and cry at the same time! We don’t need more cops, we just need other agencies to pull their weight and stop passing their work to the police. Oh and chief con stables who tell those other agencies where to go.
You see that a lot on the Police and Ambulance programs on TV.
Lot of people with mental health issues where the Police are called out then ambulance but they don't belong in a Police cell or A & E.
All the 'Mental' Hospitals have gone apart from the acute long stay ones and short stay for sectioned patients.
No where for someone with problems to go and regroup, chat to a qualified person, get decent care for a few weeks then passed onto someone else to make sure they stay well and safe.
They leave the hospital and just get lost until the next time.
Lot of people with mental health issues where the Police are called out then ambulance but they don't belong in a Police cell or A & E.
All the 'Mental' Hospitals have gone apart from the acute long stay ones and short stay for sectioned patients.
No where for someone with problems to go and regroup, chat to a qualified person, get decent care for a few weeks then passed onto someone else to make sure they stay well and safe.
They leave the hospital and just get lost until the next time.
I've no experience of Police Scotland. This Reddit group is an excellent source of information if you want a good idea of what's happening on the ground. It has a lot of traffic, so if you ask the same question you'll probably get a wealth of facts and opinions, including how things are running in particular divisions.
More generally, there are a lot of issues nationally that are affecting recruitment and retention. I can't say how relevant this is to Scotland, as it was commissioned by the Police Federation for English and Welsh forces, but the themes raised are repeated on a daily basis on the above sub-Reddit (which includes Scottish and Northern Irish officers), and in other police-orientated social media.
More generally, there are a lot of issues nationally that are affecting recruitment and retention. I can't say how relevant this is to Scotland, as it was commissioned by the Police Federation for English and Welsh forces, but the themes raised are repeated on a daily basis on the above sub-Reddit (which includes Scottish and Northern Irish officers), and in other police-orientated social media.
Pork Sausage said:
Considering this at the moment up in sunny Scotland as numbers required in local area
Any reason not to?
It's probably the worse job that you'll ever do and the best. Any reason not to?
A friend of mine was bitten last week, kicked and gouged. He's now had a tetanus booster, hep b and antibiotics but he pulled a female off the ledge of a multi storey carpark. He told me there was no time for reasoning, just grabbed her. When his wife saw his arms she stated 'what do you want, a medal? It's your job isn't it?'...
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