adiohead
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Registered: 28th Sep 01
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quote:
Originally posted by oceansoul
quote:
Originally posted by adiohead
i know a police officer.
they steal recovered goods and drugs on a daily basis.
who does? the copper you know?
yes, and all the other police at the station.
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Ben J
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Registered: 31st Jan 05
Location: Cheshire
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quote:
Originally posted by adiohead
quote:
Originally posted by oceansoul
quote:
Originally posted by adiohead
i know a police officer.
they steal recovered goods and drugs on a daily basis.
who does? the copper you know?
yes, and all the other police at the station.
Thats a very constructive comment, and probably bullshit too. 
[Edited on 27-08-2009 by Ben J]
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adiohead
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Registered: 28th Sep 01
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quote:
Originally posted by Ben J
Thats a very constructive comment. and probably bullshit too.
i don't lie, it's true.
the policeman's mum is always boasting about the free stuff they get. shocking!
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C2RL R
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Registered: 28th Mar 02
Location: Redcliffe, QLD
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can't be arsed reading all this thread so it may have already been mentioned....
GMP have a portakabin type thing that they take all round Greater Manchester and talk to people about recruitment. last month they were parked on my local Asda carpark for a couple of days. you can go along and talk to real officers, specials and civi's about careers in the police force. its the same thing that the Army careers people do. I can't imagine that it is only GMP that do it so have a look on your local forces website to see if they have the same thing in operation. they will advise you best. failing that just go down your local cop shop and ask them if there is someone you can chat to for half an hour.
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sand-eel
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Registered: 15th Mar 07
Location: carluke/braidwood--IRNBRULAND
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quote:
Originally posted by Cosmo
God help us all.
I nasel laughed there.
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Kano
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Registered: 29th Aug 04
Location: Fife
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quote:
Originally posted by Colin
You don't get stationed in your home town.
Bit of a myth Colin, I know a few peolpe who are based in their home twns. Its preferable not to be but not a must..
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Liam B
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Registered: 2nd Mar 09
Location: Herefordshire
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Im doing a public services course now, its really good, but it does not garauntee you will join a force at the end of it at all
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Ben J
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Registered: 31st Jan 05
Location: Cheshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Liam B
Im doing a public services course now, its really good, but it does not garauntee you will join a force at the end of it at all
No...you still have to apply like everyone else. It looks good on application etc tho. and the course probably will ensure that you are well prepared for the recruitment process.
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Liam B
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Registered: 2nd Mar 09
Location: Herefordshire
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quote:
Originally posted by will_doyle
What sort of tests are there.. fitness? Ill pass that probs.. _______
Can you manage 5.4 on the bleep test? Can you bench press 35kg irc?
From what i've learnt at college, the fitness tests are pathetic as although you only have to manage 5.4 on the bleep test, its more like 4 as the police bleep test is 15m a shuttle instead of the usual 20. Its more about your mental capabilities.
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Ben J
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Registered: 31st Jan 05
Location: Cheshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Liam B
quote:
Originally posted by will_doyle
What sort of tests are there.. fitness? Ill pass that probs.. _______
Can you manage 5.4 on the bleep test? Can you bench press 35kg irc?
From what i've learnt at college, the fitness tests are pathetic as although you only have to manage 5.4 on the bleep test, its more like 4 as the police bleep test is 15m a shuttle instead of the usual 20. Its more about your mental capabilities.
Yeah, you are right.
I had my fitness test last Monday.
Its a joke.
Bleep test 5.4 which is an absolute breeze. I mean I run roughly twice per week at least but i'm not that fit but I wasn't even out of breath.
You then have to do a push/pull test on a dyno machine. You do 5 pulls and 5 pushes. Its air resistance like a rowing machine. You have to average 35kg of force from the 5. Its easy enough. I don't do weights/go to gym but I passed no probs.
Its way to easy imo. An unfit person could probably do 5.4 bleep in shorts and t-shirt, but imagine if they are in full rig, stab vest, carrying baton, cs, cuffs and trying to chase down some crim...they will have no chance.
[Edited on 27-08-2009 by Ben J]
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Liam B
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Registered: 2nd Mar 09
Location: Herefordshire
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Im a fat fucker and even i can manage 5.4, im not sure exactly but i think the fire service require about 9 on the bleep test,
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Ben J
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Registered: 31st Jan 05
Location: Cheshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Liam B
Im a fat fucker and even i can manage 5.4, im not sure exactly but i think the fire service require about 9 on the bleep test,
If you go into firearms or any specialist area within the Police Force it goes up. Firearms is 9 and re-tested every 6 weeks.
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Welsh Dan
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Registered: 23rd Mar 00
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The fitness test isn't any easier because of the 15m distance. It uses shorter timings, so is the equivalent of the 20m beep test.
Anyway. Policies differ from force to force. Beep test is 10.4 for certain parts of the Met, but 5.4 for the standard job.
With regards to being stationed in your home town, its recommended to us not to live on the same borough that we work, but not forbidden.
I was under the impression that most forces aren't recruiting at the moment, so unless you've got an application in already like Ben, you won't be able to do much. And Devon and Cornwall Police are quite hard to get into.
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SVM 286
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Registered: 13th Feb 05
Location: pain
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ACTUALLY, joining the enemy.
Hmmm, interesting concept.
Can't see why anyone would want to do it.
Interesting thought on at least one level though I suppose.
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gtitim
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Registered: 13th Feb 05
Location: the boonies
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I am in the job, been in since April '08.
Application process for Lincs is as follows:
Application form
Fitness test = 5.4 bleep, push/pull of 35
Centrex assesment centre
Medical
Security checks
Training.
Took me 20 months from posting application form to training.
20 weeks training then 10 weeks as tutee with experienced officer.
Then you are out there on your own.
It is a fantastic job. Alot more paperwork and stress than you would think. Everyone joins and says they want to do this or do that, yet most spend a good few years on town learning the job. I love it - never know what the next call will be, or how it will go.
There are some downsides to it too - telling people their relatives are dead, dealing with corpses, picking up body parts, nasty injuries and accidents, loads of horrible jobs. it really can be a thankless job, but the high points make up for it.
Any questions feel free to ask - on shifts so not online all day, but if i can answer, i will.
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BarnshaW
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Registered: 25th Oct 06
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if someone in my family died i would be more upset that will doyle turned up at my house to tell me, not at them actually being dead.
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Ben J
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Registered: 31st Jan 05
Location: Cheshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Welsh Dan
The fitness test isn't any easier because of the 15m distance. It uses shorter timings, so is the equivalent of the 20m beep test.
Anyway. Policies differ from force to force. Beep test is 10.4 for certain parts of the Met, but 5.4 for the standard job.
With regards to being stationed in your home town, its recommended to us not to live on the same borough that we work, but not forbidden.
I was under the impression that most forces aren't recruiting at the moment, so unless you've got an application in already like Ben, you won't be able to do much. And Devon and Cornwall Police are quite hard to get into.
Yeah, the recruitment windows are very short. For Cheshire it was one day when you had to ring for a place on an open day. Only 500 places were available and on the open day they handed out 500 application packs to those people. I think they only take on about 60-70 of the 500.
Specials are a bit different. You can apply anytime, but again there are only certain times of the year when the training takes place IF you are successful.
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Lynny
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Registered: 3rd Jan 03
Location: oop north! Where people talk properly
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Good to see one or two people on this forum knwo what theyre talking about!
I am a copper with Durham constabulary (apparently one of the hardest to get into in the country - higher pass mark on assessment centre, and final interview which a lot of the "forces" dont have).
Specials - same powers as a PC, but work for no pay and whatever hours they want pretty much. No way a guarentee that if you do this, you'll get in as an officer, you might be shit as a special which they'll pick up on so you'll never get through the papersift
PCSOs - have civilian powers, carry a radio, stab vest etc, but no other kit, on about £17k in our force. Get a lot of shit, can give tickets, but thats it, cant arrest people, cant grab hold of them etc. Good for getting to know the community and passing on info though. The beat teams help us with drugs warrents etc.
PC - Bastard to get into, from first applying to starting training took me about 1 months. Paper application form is quite hard, theyre looking for certain things and ALOT of people apply. If you get through that you have the assessment centre, 8 hour day of english and maths tests, interviews, and role plays. Then Final interview, infront of a board of 4 people, ours was to see why you wanted to work for durham, how well you know the policing pledge etc etc. Quite a difficult interview but if you get plenty of revision in its ok. Medical is fairly easy, as is fitness, although as peopl have said it may only be 5.4 on bleep test etc, but if you think youre going to get through training on that youre having a laugh. We had regular bleep tests through training and you had to get to a minimum of 8.2. I'm female and I managed 10 on bleep test and 61kg on bench press machine. Then you have all your security tests and vetting. Where they check you and all your family.
You then have 17 weeks of classroom based training, learn all your law, first aid, race and diversity, officer safety training as well as a lot of knowledge checks (exams) and practical days with role plays to see how you can apply your knowledge to everyday situations. Then you do 10 weeks out on a tutor phase, where youre either on a shift, on partnered with a tutor who chooses the hours you work. Very steep learning curve here, for first 5 weeks you kinda shadow them, next 5 weeks they stand back and let you lead. Back to HQ for 2 weeks for more classroom work, public order training, etc and final exam, and then if you pass that and have passed all the modules of your tutor phase, you get independant patrol. Although still on probation untill 2 years is up and have an NVQ to get through which is time consuming and requires an assessor watching you work.
I LOVE my job its brilliant, very varied and you never know whats goina happen next, but its FAR from easy. There's a hell of a lot of paperwork, you need common sense, you deal everyday with nasty nasty people, get physically and mentally abused which WILL get to you, i dont care what anyone says, its not just aimed at the uniform. You have to see some horrible sights, and tell people that their loved ones have died which is NOT easy. My first one I struggled not to cry.
Dont even think about what departments there are, alot of niave people get into the job saying 'im going to be a traffic officer' etc, bollocks. You join the job to be an officer on the streets, youre there for 2 years AT LEAST, probably a lot longer. Traffic, dogs, CID, etc are all difficult to get into with further tests, fitness etc, interviews etc and often have a lot of people applying for them.....less chance of a newly qualified officer getting in than a long serving officer with a lot more training (although it does happen).
Once you've been the 2 years (some forces will let you earlier) you can apply to do your driving courses, these are fucking hard. You have a theory first (not like normal theory driving test), then a 3 week course where you basically learn to drive all over again. Once youve shown after 2 weeks you can drive, if you can, you do a few days blues and twos. You can then go back over time and do day courses learning how to drive other vehicles, in our force its that vivaros, navaro, IRT's etc. But untill then, chances are you'll be spending 2 years on foot! 10 hour shifts walking around your local community, getting to know everyone and dealing with petty crime and peoples problems....regardless of the weather!
Your social life pretty much goes out the window, dont even consider drinking much night before work, even when just in classroom, people DO get breathalised and DO get sacked for this. When you are out on the piss, you cant relax, always looking to see whos in the pub and if you know anyone, especially if you police where you live, which i have been doing (yes this is allowed). There is such thing as inappropriate association, basically you cant be friends with people with bad records etc, and need to tell the 'force' of you want to move house/ get married etc. Shifts fuck you up, and mess about with your life. I love them personally but I know a lot of people struggle with them, although it is hard changing body clock when going onto nights etc as I'm doing today. Oh and prepare to lose friends, you'll find a lot of people wont trust you anymore.
Personally I'd recommend it, best thing I ever did, but a lot of people drop out/get sacked, or just expect an easy ride.
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Lynny
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Registered: 3rd Jan 03
Location: oop north! Where people talk properly
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Ben J
quote:
Originally posted by Welsh Dan
The fitness test isn't any easier because of the 15m distance. It uses shorter timings, so is the equivalent of the 20m beep test.
Anyway. Policies differ from force to force. Beep test is 10.4 for certain parts of the Met, but 5.4 for the standard job.
With regards to being stationed in your home town, its recommended to us not to live on the same borough that we work, but not forbidden.
I was under the impression that most forces aren't recruiting at the moment, so unless you've got an application in already like Ben, you won't be able to do much. And Devon and Cornwall Police are quite hard to get into.
Yeah, the recruitment windows are very short. For Cheshire it was one day when you had to ring for a place on an open day. Only 500 places were available and on the open day they handed out 500 application packs to those people. I think they only take on about 60-70 of the 500.
Specials are a bit different. You can apply anytime, but again there are only certain times of the year when the training takes place IF you are successful.
with Durham when I applied, they sent out 500 application forms to nearly 1000 who applied for them....out of that 8 of us got jobs. And we were the last course for 3 years
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Ben J
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Registered: 31st Jan 05
Location: Cheshire
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Alex....
Whats the view of Specials within your station/force. I've heard alot that Specials are often looked down on by Regulars, and treated like shit? It doesn't bother me if its the case where I get stationed, as i'll gain respect by proving myself (hopefully). But just wondered what your view is and what you've seen.
IMO (although probably biast) I think if someone is willing to give up their free time, for no pay and potentially put themselves at risk, they deserve some respect.
Tbh, if I enjoy it as much as I hope I will, I will seriously consider applying for the regs.
Just got medical to do now then training starts end of sept!!
[Edited on 28-08-2009 by Ben J]
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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Ok looks like I was wrong on all accounts with the advice I gave. (This does happen!! Often!!  ) I applied to be in the police about 5yrs ago, done the tests and got through to the fitness part and didnt bother attending, I had a long think and decided it wasn't for me & I was only joining in hope of a decent job from it. I see the police as more a 'way of life' than a job, almost regimental. Your part of an elite club almost, must obey at all cost.....im WAY too laid back for that!
I can kind of respect peoples drive for wanting to be a police officer, it cant be easy. But its not for me.....there's too many policies I don't agree with, plus I have too many dodgy friends!!
[Edited on 28-08-2009 by Colin]
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Lynny
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Registered: 3rd Jan 03
Location: oop north! Where people talk properly
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Nah specials are fairly ok tbh, not really come across many since I moved stations, but when I worked Durham City they were treat like anyone else. Only gripe I've heard is that some take the piss with the hours they work.
PCSOs get all the stick, some times jokingly, sometimes not! Two main things I've learnt with police and you'll not go wrong; do NOT lie, and dont be lazy. Your shift will hate you if youre a lazy badger, and integrity is a MASSIVE part of the job, lie and youre out
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Ben J
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Registered: 31st Jan 05
Location: Cheshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Alex_NSM
Nah specials are fairly ok tbh, not really come across many since I moved stations, but when I worked Durham City they were treat like anyone else. Only gripe I've heard is that some take the piss with the hours they work.
PCSOs get all the stick, some times jokingly, sometimes not! Two main things I've learnt with police and you'll not go wrong; do NOT lie, and dont be lazy. Your shift will hate you if youre a lazy badger, and integrity is a MASSIVE part of the job, lie and youre out
Well i'm definatley not lazy and I don't lie so should be okay!!
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Lynny
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Registered: 3rd Jan 03
Location: oop north! Where people talk properly
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Theres a lot of focus on race and diversity now too, but im guessing youre not a right wing extremist etc
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Lynny
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Registered: 3rd Jan 03
Location: oop north! Where people talk properly
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Ben, do you know what the training comprises of for specials?
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