Career options: traffic police

[hugh_]

I've got a year to go at uni, and I'm starting to think of careers. But I dont know what I want to do, I doubt it will be something related to my degree though!

So what is traffic policing really like? How much paperwork is there, can I go straight into traffic police or do I have to be the standard bobby on the highstreet for a while first?

If anyone has done this what was it like?

Thanks
Hugh

[apache]

There are currently only 4 traffic police positions in the whole of the UK so unless you want to volunteer to become a speed camera I'd forget it

[vonhosen]

Firstly you can't just join as a traffic Police officer, you have to become a probationary constable first. Once you have finished your probation (2 years), you can apply to join specialist departments.

There will first have to be vacancies within your chosen department, in order for them to invite applicants to join. You will have to satisfy the selection criteria in order to submit an application. You will undoubtedly be one of a group going for a smaller number of places & there will be selection interviews etc.

If you are accepted, your joining may depend on you passing a number of mandatory courses in order to stay. Some of these courses will be pass/fail & if you don't meet the required standard there may be no place for you within your chosen department.

In traffic there will be a lot of paperwork (as there will be for any officer in any department), but ultimately how much paperwork you generate in such a post will be dependent on how much work you take on & how conscientious you are.

>> Edited by vonhosen on Saturday 20th May 10:36

[turbobloke]

Want to join plod eh?

If you're female, liable to be blown away in a strong gust, have any skin tone other than white, engage in curious religious practices under the cover of darkness, are left handed, bat for the opposition, believe in animal wights or any other cuddly pc bull5h1t, and know about human rights and form filling - yer in.

If you're male, over 6ft, with a good education adn employment record, C of E or dine on any other boring mainstream religious nuts, have a disntinctly pale complexion, sing manly (or womanly) songs with hetero overtones, write dexterously and pay taxes - GET THAT SPEEDING FINE PAID AND P155 OFF

[hugh_]

vonhosen said:

Firstly you can't just join as a traffic Police officer, you have to become a probationary constable first. Once you have finished your probation (2 years), you can apply to join specialist departments. There will first have to be vacancies within your chosen department, in order for them to invite applicants to join. You will have to satisfy the selection criteria in order to submit an application. You will undoubtedly be one of a group going for a smaller number of places & there will be selection interviews etc. If you are accepted, your joining may depend on you passing a number of mandatory courses in order to stay. Some of these courses will be pass/fail & if you don't meet the required standard there may be no place for you within your chosen department. In traffic there will be a lot of paperwork (as there will be for any officer in any department), but ultimately how much paperwork you generate in such a post will be dependent on how much work you take on & how conscientious you are.

Realistically patroling a highstreet of drunken "yoofs" doesnt appeal, but if its a means to an end then so be it. It would depend on the pass rate of the courses?

apache said:

There are currently only 4 traffic police positions in the whole of the UK so unless you want to volunteer to become a speed camera I'd forget it

Damn!

[puggit]

The problem is that trafpol depts are being merged in with more mainstream policing - obviously with speed cameras and talivans we have no need for trafpol as there won't be any more accidents

[Hollywood Wheels]

hugh_ said:

do I have to be the standard bobby on the highstreet for a while first?

No offence Hugh, but why do you say that like Traffic is a promotion? It's not, it's specialist post. I think you'll find that those who interview you for Traffic will have a lot more respect for you if you have indeed been the 'standard bobby' for a few years, and actually learnt the skill of being a good street copper. How are you going to be an effective Traffic Officer if you've never taken the time to be a good Response Officer?

As i say, not meaning to be negative, but i get the feeling you'll be asking how long it is till you can do your promotion exams next. Why don't you try to spend a couple of nights with a Traffic crew in your local area, or god forbid jump in the back of an area car and see what real Police work is like....(lights touchpaper, stands back.....)

HW

[hugh_]

Hollywood Wheels said:

hugh_ said: do I have to be the standard bobby on the highstreet for a while first? No offence Hugh, but why do you say that like Traffic is a promotion? It's not, it's specialist post. I think you'll find that those who interview you for Traffic will have a lot more respect for you if you have indeed been the 'standard bobby' for a few years, and actually learnt the skill of being a good street copper. How are you going to be an effective Traffic Officer if you've never taken the time to be a good Response Officer? As i say, not meaning to be negative, but i get the feeling you'll be asking how long it is till you can do your promotion exams next. Why don't you try to spend a couple of nights with a Traffic crew in your local area, or god forbid jump in the back of an area car and see what real Police work is like....(lights touchpaper, stands back.....) HW

HW, the primary reason for become plod would be to work on the roads, I see driving I dont like the standard off virtually every day and I would like to be able to have a positive input in making the roads safer, through policing not the scamerati. Because of that, yes I would like to get into that aspect of the job as fast as possible. However, if the normal proceedure is to do a few years of street policing/area work first then that is obviously something I would have to do. But because of why I joined up, getting to traffic would seem like a promotion, because its something I would like to do much more than area work.

Before I apply for jobs/decide who career I take I may very well spend a couple of nights with Traffic, thankyou for the suggestion.

Hugh

[Dwight VanDriver]

Sorry Hugh and with respect, but :

"Realistically patroling a highstreet of drunken "yoofs" doesnt appeal, but if its a means to an end then so be it."

does not convince me that Policing is for you. It is from the Street that you earn your spurs and go on to maybe greater things.

Considered Traffic Management for LA and a safe desk?.

DVD

[john57]

Hollywood Wheels said:

Why don't you try to spend a couple of nights with a Traffic crew in your local area, or god forbid jump in the back of an area car and see what real Police work is like....(lights touchpaper, stands back.....) HW

[Hollywood Wheels]

john57 said:

Hollywood Wheels said: Why don't you try to spend a couple of nights with a Traffic crew in your local area, or god forbid jump in the back of an area car and see what real Police work is like....(lights touchpaper, stands back.....) HW

[hugh_]

Hollywood Wheels said:

john57 said: Hollywood Wheels said: Why don't you try to spend a couple of nights with a Traffic crew in your local area, or god forbid jump in the back of an area car and see what real Police work is like....(lights touchpaper, stands back.....) HW

???

[hugh_]

mungo said:

Hugh... Whatever role you want in the police you must learn the skills and want to be a police officer... I have recently completed my probationary period and I have always had an ambition to join a number of specialist posts from public order depts, possibly even traffic... however, after just over two years in I have realised that I really enjoy response shift despite some of the less than glamourous jobs we often have to do (see my thread: My first job of the day) and I want at least another year, year and a half continueing to do what I do now before I think about a specialist post. Two years is not long enough before applying for traffic - you can apply but they would want to see a well rounded officer with LOTS of experience before they would even consider your application. I'm afraid to say that before joining traffic you would need a minimum of 3 to 4 years with good evidence that you are a good proactive officer in what you do at the moment. Unless you want to be a police officer and are willing to spend a few years developing yourself then forget it - don't mean to sound negative but unless you actually want to be a police officer you won't last. Even as a traffic officer you will still be occasionally dealing with drunken idiots and called upon to do jobs that would call for "core policing skills" >> Edited by mungo on Saturday 20th May 17:26

I obviously need to think about what I'm going to be happy doing, where I want to work etc etc.

Thanks
Hugh

[Hollywood Wheels]

Hugh,

Don't think of a 'normal' copper as walking along a high st somewhere talking to old ladies, that's not the case. As a response Officer you will be first on scene at murders, serious sexual assaults, burglaries, fatal accidents etc. It can be a very exciting life indeed, and it can be a very boring and mundane life at times. You will see and do things that a lot of people couldn't or wouldn't want, or be able, to deal with. You'll experience adrenaline rushes which leave you shaking for hours, you'll work with some weird and wonderful characters, and your 'colleagues' will be people who will put their lives on the line for you without a moments hesitation. It will make you as a person, and you'll never look back.

If you would rather work in front of a computer in an office for a faceless company doing 9-5, where 'danger' is spilling some hot coffee on your lap, then fine, each to their own. But i would say look deeper into it and consider going out with your local crew for a couple of shifts. The experience might change your life forever. Good luck with whatever you decide....

HW

[silverback mike]

I have always enjoyed sector policing, I have been traffic, but reverted to district work. It's whatever floats your boat really.

Yes, district policing has some really really crap jobs, but on the other side of things, so does traffic, it isn't as glamourous as the telly makes out.

To summarise, if you like a hands on job that can be a right good laugh, coupled with bloody hard work - despite what people say, join, you won't regret it.....

Someone described the job as. "societies bin men"

[silverback mike]

and of course women

[julianhj]

silverback mike said:

Someone described the job as. "societies bin men"

I like that, I may have to nick it for my own use...

[silverback mike]

autismuk said:

The investigation squad are heading for your house right now ....

Not taking me alive.

[vonhosen]

mungo said:

Oh and Mike - "sector policing" = rude word

Much the same as "relief" became a rude word.