General Policing Discussions

What are your thoughts on officers in your force giving regular updates on social media about what they've done on duty? I saw someone mention this tweet by a Sergeant from West Yorkshire police earlier. I assume the intent was to show the public that WYP are being tough on drug dealing but reading the comments, it seems to have backfired. The police are being heavily criticized, people are asking who pays for the door, and questioning whether an officer should really be bragging about a raid where nothing was found.

I wonder what anyone would think of these ideas about possible changes to the UK's police/security apparatus. This is brief, but there can be detail added if wished. I've missed lots of things, but this is just a brief start. No, costing has not been considered yet. Three distinct type of forces, with big uniform differences to make it obvious and to satisfy my appetite for uniform(!) (see below). KEY POINTS: - More funding is needed now and will be - Entry standards need to be raised and shall be (mental & physical robustness & fitness, previous history, dress standards, general idiot-tests, etc) - RPUs move to national force -…

Hello All. So I now have a conditional offer from BTP as a Student Officer (Police Constable). Having passed the mandatory assessments, I am now waiting for my medical assessment and start date for training. So now I have a few questions/worries that maybe some more experienced people in uniform could help with! I have always been interested in policing since I was a boy and am now almost there (not quite!), really want to commit to it for a career. Want to arrest lots of offenders, help people and become a good railway neighbourhood/response officer with BTP. 1. Death & corpses - obviously a big thing within BTP (300 a year on railway I believe.) …

Most people on here would no doubt categorise me as a miserable old sod based on my posting history, but to prove I'm not completely joyless, I thought I'd share a fun little story and I invite others to join in. About a year ago, I was booking someone into custody and the systems were really slow. The custody Sgt was patiently typing and waiting for stuff to load and he started humming the theme-song to The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse cartoon. This must have been a regular occurrence as a Custody Officer started going "zoom-zoom" along with him. Well, being the serene vocal beast that I am, without skipping a beat, I launched into full vocals with the lyric…

I am 22 months into my probation and recently had a seizure out of the blue (never had one before). The hospital advised me to stop driving until they knew why and I did so and travelled to and from work by public transport (2 hrs each way). I took no time off and am still carrying a crime list as well as running my area (I'm a neighbourhood officer). I still go out, just not alone. Now I have just been advised that they are going to extend my probationary period pending the results of the tests. This essentially means if I have epilepsy they can just get rid of me I'm guessing? It's worth mentioning my Sgt.and insp are very happy with my performance and I have passed eve…

And what happened, how did you deal with it?

I sort of understand how RIPA works in relation to compelling a suspect to hand over their passwords. Does the same process need to be followed if they are using biometric unlocking? For example if you've arrested someone for a crime where the data on their phone is likely to be extremely relevant, and you know that their fingerprint is the password, do you have the authority right then and there to physically force their fingers onto the device to unlock it while in custody? Or would you still have to get the appropriate RIPA authorization?

The photography thread earlier reminded me of some videos I'd seen online - people intentionally setting up with large tripods and extra large zoom lenses, and taking photos into the depths of police stations. Their sole intention seems to be to gauge the police reaction, whilst claiming the photos are for personal use. Naturally the photographer 'knows their rights' and doesnt divulge any details about what his intentions are or any of his personal details. When photographs are taken from a public place (for example, a public footpath outside of the station) then there are obviously restricted powers regarding how to deal with this, subject to using the terrorism ac…

Whilst carrying out some research I came across the legal requirement that Local Authorities have to prevent crime and disorder within their local area:- Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 states that all relevant authorities – which includes town and parish councils – have a duty to consider the impact of all their functions and decisions on crime and disorder in their local area. I wondered if something similar would be beneficial if it also was brought into place and applied to private businesses and organisations aswell. We have forced private companies to comply with other acts and statutes such as Health & Safety Requirements, Environm…

Good afternoon all, Just looking for a few tips in settling in to life as a student officer in my new team and stomaching uni life. Previously served with the same force in another capacity and my last team were gold. New team are alright; albeit, bar one who is 20-30 years into service. I apparently don't count and they have made no effort to ask how I'm getting on and anything about me unless it's to say 'you don't count,' in front of my new team. Its frustrating having to start again and it's not the job that bothers me; more so the being ignored part as I make a conscious effort to be inclusive. Cakes on day 1 to show willing and ap…

Created as another thread was being inadvertently derailed. For the any and all things uniform, particularly the less usual, illegal, different, etc ones.

Hey all. New to the forum- I applied to join the Met back in December as a special, passed all my interviews and assessments- inc. SMT's and fingerprints. This was in February- since then, I've heard nothing. Now before I set anyone off, I come from a police family so I get why vetting takes so long. But, it's been 2 months- is this normal? It's not a heightened vetting procedure, just for a special constable role. I really want to do this, but I've tried everything I can to reach out recruitment and vetting, but I get stuck in 30 minute 'queues' on the phone which end in no one picking up, and I've had no reply to my emails. BEFORE anyone starts crit…

Given the current situation in Ukraine and the posturing from Putin it appears as if we're quickly entering into a new 'cold war' with Russia that seemingly wants to reclaim lost land borders in a bid to protect itself from NATO encroachment. Something I discussed in the office a few days ago was the possibility that the country will probably need to start looking at its 'Civil Protection' options that was originally in place prior to the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 90s. My understanding is local police played a big role in this and had various plans should the worst happen with even drills taking place yet 30 years of peace, the mothballing of vario…

Even though you can't get a printed copy for a few more weeks, the Highway Code had some subtle but very significant changes in its recent update. Particulalry with regard to vehicles turning into/ out of junctions. By now quite a few incidents will have been attended by police, and I'm interested in whether the new rules have influenced the decision making towards reportingf for WDC when in the past it may have been less likely? The typical scenario being cyclist riding along the road, intending to cycle past a nearside junction, when a car/van/lorry decides to make a left turn into the junction and strikes the cyclist. Is a driver saying 'I didn't see them', en…