General Policing Discussions

BlackBerries: Which forces issue them to Specials? What do the Specials think of them? Does everyone believe that if regulars are issued with them, then so should Specials? (Our control are becoming slightly obsessive regarding BlackBerries, however when you are not issued one, you cannot use one) Thoughts are appreciated.

Some serious kit carried about by these guys! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuZDjgsjBUo Do armed officers have different vests to normal response? The vests these two are wearing look to give a lot more protection! Would love to do this job one day!

I am currently serving special since Oct 2012 in Nottinghamshire and I have already got to attend court in February as a witness to an assault on me and was just wondering if anybody can give me some pointers on what to expect, what's good etiquette etc.?

If you could change the pursuit rules regarding motorcycles, what would you do? I was watching a Police show on TV and it seems catching a suspect trying to escape by motorcycle can be quite stressful and on several occasions the Police Helicopter had to land and dispatch crew members to give chase on foot. In America it's simply acceptable just to ram someone off a motorcycle. In Poland the Police have sub machine guns and will shoot anyone who tries to make off on one. I think they give fair warning beforehand and this is only in extreme circumstances but I'm pretty sure I've seen it on TV...they haven't physically shot anyone but it's just a warning/deterrent. These …

Afternoon everyone, I've asked this question in my local force forum but through it would be interesting to see how other forces keep there specials up to date and with update training.

Always wondered: How many hours a week do you guys do and what length of shifts? I heard 40 hours a week and 10-hour shifts, so... only 4 days a week? How does it work? Are there different lengths of shift depending on what time of day it takes place?

Hope it's OK to post here but was looking at the forum and was hoping that someone might know Last week I was staying in London and was out drinking. I was in a pub and got into a row with a security guy and the police came. One took me away from the security guy and talked to me and took my details and the other one talked to the security guy. When he came back over the one that was talking to me handcuffed me and put me in the car. I was in the car for a few minutes and they came back to me and I started asking what had happened and ended up being told that I could stay quiet and they would bring me back to the hotel I was staying at or if not I was going to the cells.…

Has anyone done this course to prepare you for a PC assessment centre? I have an assessment day coming up and am considering the course.

How, as a Special, do you reply?

Hi Guys, Am I correct in thinking that all a constable's powers come from PACE? Are there any other acts which are commonly used? Can someone point me in the direction of a complete version or a summary document to get a better understanding of the most used powers. Thanks!

Here's one for you, all be it a question I have been pondering for a while now since it happened (and a bit of a stupid one) but I'd thought I'd ask anyway. So I have been a Special now since November and I've been out a fair few times now. Due to me being out a fair few times, I have sat in the parade room and noted down who is who and who's done what and who has a warrant etc etc. Now, obviously being a special I have a day time job. One that enables me to interact with the general public on a very regular basis. One day, I came across a male I remembered from one of the parade slide shows who, at the time, had a warrant out for his arrest yet hadn't been seen since t…

Hey guys, on Ncalt is there supposed to be something in the "required training" field or do i have to find out what modules I need to complete from my training staff?

I hope this isn't the wrong place for this but as title suggests quick question on backloading/setting hand cuffs for use. When forcing back against the ratchet I find mine 'give' about 5 clicks leaving 5 teeth exposed protuding from the double bar. This seems quite alot of give for the single bar to go back agains the ratchet. What are other peoples like?

I couldn't find a thread similar to this after doing a search, but it has probably already been asked. What made you want to be a Special; putting yourself at risk on the streets every week voluntarily? For me, it is sifting through the news every day and at least once a week I come across an article about someone that has been murdered or Police are investigating a death. I find it even more disgusting when it involves children. I want to be on the front line to make sure the people responsible for such a sad act are brought in. I understand most of this goes through CID and there is little a Special could do in this situation. However, by being a Special you are incre…

A book of condolence is on North Yorkshire Police web site for PC Andrew Bramma. Andrew was killed in an RTC while responding to a 999 call on Saturday 5th Jan. He leaves behind a wife and two small children. RIP Link