General Policing Discussions

Hi all This isn't a recruitment question (before it gets deleted/closed!) - but more of a general query about the state of the special constabulary and its role in the police. I applied to be a special back in June and within a week was asked to attend an assessment centre. It's only been this week that I've been able to attend, after a very disorganised recruitment process (multiple cancellations, incorrect information on arrangements, etc.). I was really looking forward to my assessment centre, but was a bit disappointed when I realised that I was the only one there who just wanted to be a special. Everyone else seemed to be unhappy in their jobs and keen to…

Hello all. I am new to this forum and didn't really know where else to ask my question. I have been a police officer for 12 years in Northern Ireland and was promoted to sergeant after 5 years of patrol. Due to a personal issue involving my family, I have decided that the time is right to move away from the police and apply as a firefighter, something I had always wanted to do even before joining the police. I am just wondering if any other previous officers have taken the same plunge and if they had any advice for me. I understand that there will be quite a paycut but for once in our lives we are financially secure and it isn't too bothersome. I'm just concerned th…

Paedophile hunters - rising publicity. Essentially groups which try and lure, detain, interview, arrest, film etc (or a combination) paedophiles. They normally pose as a child online and then arrange a ‘meet’ and then it can get a bit physical. Many issues here, notwithstanding that some of the ‘hunters’ themselves look like they should be wearing ‘cuffs. Some of them in the recent BBC documentary below wear high vis tac vests with blue and white chequered (similar to the POLITE vests). Some of them make any persons arrests ‘citizens arrests’ etc, some inform police, some bobbies get a bit upset, some supportive. All a bit dodgy in my opinion, but they do …

Nearly all forces have community/neighbourhood/area etc policing teams, some with officers covering a certain town, but is the actual ‘beat’ still a part of policing? I’m not talking about PC Smith working always in Town A., but PC Smith actually covering the area from the high street to the petrol station etc and does just that, nothing else, but that is quite literally his area. I saw the advert for Essex Community Special Constable: https://www.essex.police.uk/communityspecials and it got me thinking. They seem to recruit generic SCs that do community police team, but the community SC I think is just that, a ‘modern Bobby.’ Not seen anything like that in…

I figured this would be a good topic for discussion. During these weird times I've recieved updates from various organisations, some of which have been concerned with people impersonating key workers to help facilitate travel, now I have yet to encounter anyone yet impersonating a key worker during Covid (not that I've been interrogating everyone wearing a Lanyard) but this got me thinking back to an incident I dealt with five or six years ago involving an over enthusiastic train spotter (I kid you not) which has me wondering do we have a serious gap in legislation that needs plugging? A bit of background, I was called to a platform one night by station staff …

Hi all, Ive been asked to become a tutor constable by my Sgts and ive only got 3 years service. Do you think this is too early? I am concerned because my Sgts keep saying i should be a tutor and that they think ill be good at it however i dont know if im ready or if people will think badly of me? Thanks

Having come from Scotland where we don't have PACE or anything comparable, it really baffles me how much time is wasted on each arrest. The 3 main differences that really illustrate just how far PACE has gone to cripple the service are: 1) INTERVIEW: in Scotland we don't interview if we have 2 bits of evidence (ie two witness statements identifying a crime and a suspect, or, CCTV that has captured the crime and identifying the suspect from that video). The defendant can come up with whatever lie he conjures up with his/her defence solicitor at court and it's up to them to convince the JP/Sheriff/jury. 2) CPS Charging advice: cops don't go the Procurat…

Hey guys, just wondered if anyone else has read any of these and has more to share. I've just finished reading Wasting Police Time for the 2nd time, got my copy of Perverting the Course of Justice today and just ordered a copy of Wasting More Police Time. Obviously there are the 'usual suspects' on this forum that will no doubt flood the topic and try to derail it with their blind devotion and subservience to the system, labelling anyone with any modicum of objection to the detrimental practises of the system as ignorant malcontents and never actually critically address any of the points raised, but hey, these books much hit a but too close to home and when face…

Evening all, I hope you’re keeping well and safe during these odd times! I joined the regs around 8 months ago after a short while as a special and I love it. The issue is, I still feel as much use as a chocolate fire guard and as if I know as much about policing as a freeman of the land. I joined with aspirations of always giving the best service to those who need us and, while I have all the enthusiasm in the world, I worry that I’ll simply never be good enough to give the level of service that people deserve. I’m currently in my tutor period and should become independent in June. My tutor is fantastic. I get on with her really well, she’s ace at the jo…

Got Skype interview Saturday. Any advice on what to say and questions to ask? Thxs