General Policing Discussions

Has your role as a police officer ever contradicted your own moral compass? More and more in todays modern society the role of a police officer is changing. While fighting crime will always be the forefront of the job, the role of the 'OFFICER' (translated as a revenue collector, security guard of private property and civil enforcer) seems to be becoming more predominant. The gradual shift from a Policeman/women to a Police Officer has brought with it some new responsibilities and I would like to know your thoughts on these? and if, in the line of these new duties you have ever found yourself questioning your own moral beliefs as a human being. Of course, 99.9% of p…

Hi everyone. I thought that in this country in order to hold a position of authority you needed to swear an oath to the queen?? As pcso's do not have an oath of office (or so im told) Do they actually have any powers?? lawfully speaking.

Evening - I do a fair bit of youth work, and we had a situation tonight, and I just wondered what you guys think. Some young people were kicking some no parking cones about (tut tut, I know...) and a bloke wearing a plain hi-vis cycle vest came over and said that he 'suggests we move on'. He wasn't on a police push bike, but he had blue flashing lights on the rear. When some of the young people asked him who he was, and why he had blue lights, he said 'what do you think any other vehicle has blue lights for?'. They asked again who he was, and he said he was a 'member of the UK Law Enforcement Authority'. On later talking with him, it turned out he was a prison officer, a…

Hi, I've recenty applied for the position as a Special Constable at Norfolk Constabulary. I had my first PIRT test about a month ago and unfortunatly failed. I did revise but I think I over revised (if that makes sense). Anyway, I have my second oppotunity coming up and I really, really want to pass! (obviously). I have brought a book called Verbal and Numerical Reasoning Exercises for te Police Recruit Assessment Process. The book is fantastic however I'm just wondering if there is more I can look at such as on the internet, that would give me that little bit extra help! Thanks Jordan

We have to do regular knowledge checks as we go along but I've got some issues with a few of the questions. I've listed the questions and the available answers, the correct answer being in bold (as deemed by the instructor). Then I've said what I don't understand. Can anyone help with these please? Burglary COXON approaches the town hall intending to enter and stealsome property from inside. He has withhim a metal hook which he inserts through the letterbox to try to unlock thedoor, but is unable to do so. He thenpicks up a brick, smashes a window and climbs in stealing a laptop making goodhis escape. At which point is theoffence of burglary complete? A When COX…

I am currently in training and have been reading through the definition of certain offences and in coming across this video I found so many ingredients that constitute terrorism there is just 1 last thing he doesn't do... Well I certainly see the final 2 point, he himself admits to being an extremist (4:25). While there is no direct threat of violence I can see major intimidation of the police here when they surround them and assault can be constituted as simply pointing or intimidating a person. I realise that this would not in a single instance consititute serious violence but from the sheer amout of times he has done this would this not stack up? I think h…

Dear All, I am not a policeman and I am not a freeman. However, I have studied both for many years (Five in Total). My University degree is in Criminology which literally spent most of the time critising the police without offering a viable alternative. This point quickly quietened people with new found knowledge with no expertise. Precisely what University is all about, discuss and form new ideas and expand knowledge via debate. However, never really having any real life experience to be drawn upon.... thus isolated ideas without any chance of forming a grounded and purposeful foundation of knowledge. My point is this, I recieve emails from certain groups to broaden my…

A few years ago I used to live nextdoor to an ex cop. One night he knocked on my front door to tell me that there was a prowler in the back gardens. He asked me to phone 999 and report it as he was going to go after the prowler.Just before he left he said make sure you tell them I'm an ex cop. I phoned 999 and explained everything making sure I told them he was an ex cop. Then wow within less than 5 minutes 6 cars, 2 vans and a dog van turned up!! There was around 22 police officers there! I wonder how many would of turned up if I hadn't of said he was an ex cop?

Hi, I'm an ex Special and Regular and the author of STAB PROOF SCARECROWS. I am about to interview a high ranking Special and have found out that Sharp End and Special Beat have been put out to pasture. Can anyone tell me the names of "in house" or public magazines that are devoted to the police? Thanks Lance

This has been at the back of my mind for a few months now, and I was just wondering why we don't have more national computer systems within the Job? Obviously there is PNC, but I was thinking more along the lines of (please forgive Met-Speak here) CAD, CRIS & MERLIN. I first thought about this when doing an entry on MERLIN, which is a Met system for (amongst other things) recording children and vulnerable people coming to police attention - if a family used to live outside of the MPD, then any previous history might be missed when doing a report for, say, a domestic incident. It can also be used for MisPers, and a way that could quickly search national missing person…

Do firearms officers always shout armed police even if they are dealing with a non-firearms incident?

Hi there The force I work for are shortly going to be using a new command and control system called Steria Storm. Apparently it's already been used for ages in other forces such as Lancashire. Just a quick question (cos I'm nosey!) - is it any good? We've heard lots of wonderful things about it but I don't think any Police Staff have actually seen it in action. I work in the call centre and my friends work in the despatch centre so this question is kind of broad to cover both sides. As a call taker, I'm not bothered what it's like as long as I can get the info on there and passed to whichever desk it concerns. From a despatch point, does it save time and make life easie…

Hi Guys! I am doing research for a project for uni, and I was wondering if there is a Mobile PNC device? I know when ever checks are being done its done on the radio, but do such devices exist? If not why? Would it make life easier if there was an iPhone-like app that you could do checks with? Perhaps something that showed a photo of the person in question? Would this free up the radio waves? Thanks in advance for any help!

Hello, I could really use the help of people within the Police Force. I am applying to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (S.R.A) for membership and am required to disclose-: any criminal conviction, including cautions, reprimands, fines and warnings (even if they are spent) In May 2008 I was stopped with my friend and his cousin, a small amount of cannabis was found drenched in a can of Coke in my vehicle, after many questions the officer stated that it was my car and my responsibility and I could take a street warning or be arrested and taken in. I was fearful of be in cuffs and taken in and treated as a criminal and as it was my car i took responsibility. I hav…

Hey there, Are we allowed to fill in MG11 forms on behalf of other officers? If so would we need to declare that the statement was not written by that person?