General Policing Discussions

Hi Any comments from users? pm if necessary to avoid general eyes etc. Looks good and i am hoping to get a username and password shortly to view the demo. Regards

I started my special training in May and we've had a lot of information crammed in. Some things I've felt we could have spent more time on to gain understanding, and other things I felt we spent too long on and that they were basic competencies which really if you don't have - you shouldn't be there! The course has been going really well. I've thoroughly enjoyed it and there hasn't been a moment where I've felt that I'm making the wrong decision. I'm buzzing to complete my attestation and get stuck in! (Just wish it was as a reg - but that's another story!) However it occurred to me the other day when our tutor got us to pull over another tutor in his car and discuss why…

Having finished college in March 2010 and joining the Specials at that time with no intention of going to University, an 18 y/o fresh out of education I have been more or less unemployed for a year (bar the odd job coming out of the ashes like a phoenix) I was just wondering if there were any more SC's going through the same transition and what their feelings were or any people fearful about losing their civilian jobs and what impact it will have on their commitment to their force.. I sometimes think to myself how bizarre I am, scraping by on £30 a week whilst giving 80 hours of my life a month for free ha! Hopefully in 2 - 3 years it will pay off when the ol'recruiting …

As a special, say I had 5 years experience under my belt and the Met decide to recruit for Regulars again. If I got accepted to become a regular, would I need to still do the two years probationary period or would I be exempt from that?

Does anyone know where there are any statistics on accidents rates when SCs are driving? We're having some issues over what we can and can't do when driving and I'd like to go into meetings about it with some information.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13037808 A woman has admitted handling stolen goods after being accused of taking potato waffles, pies, and 100 packets of ham from a bin outside of a Tesco Express in Essex. But if something is thrown away, when is it illegal to take it? Sacha Hall, 22, denied a charge of theft, which was left to lie on file, over taking the items said to be worth a total of £215, which the grocery store had discarded after a power cut had spoiled large amounts of food. Hall said dozens of people had taken food from the Tesco bins but that she had only received a bag, mainly containing ham, brought to her flat by a friend. …

Hi, Please forgive me if this is already on the forums. I have tried to look for it but there is none that I can see. Fishing through old topics, I have seen a few which speak about how they do not use the warrant card in fear that if the bus encounters a disturbance, then the officer with the warrant card will be called upon by the driver and then this could be the off-duty officer in possible danger. Do you think that TFL should be contacted on this matter about how staff should not call upon off-duty officers and await a response and if none is made, then the driver should proceed to his/her normal procedures of code red. I ask because my Dad is a bus driver, and o…

Really quick question this. I understand SC's can choose their own operating hours, but my question is, can a borough refuse you from operating on a day if they have enough officers or is it the more officers the better? For example; At a town festival there are already 50 officers operating including special constables. If I wanted to operate that day, could they say no because they already have the man power needed?

Hi Ive just come to the end of my MOD 1 training and go out to district on the 10th of June.. The reason for this thread is to ask if anyone knows if there is such thing as, or if there is any development opportunities for us specials to become maybe dog handlers or anything like that but still being a volunteer.. Ive always been interested in being a dog handler and have had a few dogs in the past and i have the patience to work with one everyday.. Now i know that specials aren't allowed to do response driving, the reason why I was told is because the course takes 3 weeks and costs too much to put volunteers through it... wondered whether this…

Firstly, I'd like to apologise if this has been discussed before, elsewhere, at length, deteriorated in to an argument/ didn't gain a consensus/ provoked WW3/4/5. Over the last 12 months and looking forward to the coming few years most Police Forces are looking to significantly increase their number or specials through extensive recruitment and training. Personally speaking I welcome increasing numbers and see the necessity therein. My concern is however that the quality of the intakes may suffer. Someone undoubtedly will reply stating that the 'bar' will not be lowered to enable the desired increase in numbers however one must ask if more 'bad apples' will slip through…

I have to say I enjoyed the image of Obama as he entered number 10 downing street shaking hands with the DPG officer outside, nice to see an ordinary PC getting a hand shake from Mr President, I wonder if the PM has ever done this. The other aspect of the visit I found interesting was the presence of a large number of US Secret service vehicles in the UK which were used to escort the president and his convoy around London along with the Met Police, I could not help but notice that the President's car and many of the secret service vehicles had Blue and Red lights on in transit, I know our law and the lighting regulations state that you can only show red to the rear of …

I was just wondering how and who the 30 years maximum service applies to before they have to retire. Allow me to explain further... As a special, if I proceed to join the regulars later in life, will my X number of years as a special contribute to my 30 years service? And also can I only do 30 years maximum service as a special or does this only apply to regulars (who may or may not have been specials)? Ant

I had a thought last night and wondered if other users would be up for it. We do a charity prison break. We choose a police station in the centre of the country and then see how far we can escape from it with only what you have on you. You cannot use money or your mobile phone, but will have them on you in case of emergancy. We get sponcership for the event and raise sponcership to go to police charities or Help for Heros. Just an idea, who would be up for it?

Hi All, Hoping some of you serving Specials can enlighten me with regards shift allocation etc . I'm barely into my training to become a TVP Special, and so far am absolutely loving the experience. Due to my work / family commitments, I stated on my initial application form that i could be available Mon-Thurs, from 7pm until when ever required (within reason!). I have since had it suggested to me (by a serving Special) that my local station have basically dis-regarded existing Specials' wishes in terms of hours, and have been 'pushing' them towards Fri & Sat evenings......something I can do occasionally, but certainly not regularly. I've also been told that I hav…