General Policing Discussions

Good morning all, Well I start my first duty next week, as a Special Constable on module 2. I am just looking for any advice, and what people experienced on their first duty? How did you feel, because at the moment i am kacking myself. eek!! Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance x

Hi, I'm currently mid way through my Specials training and through the training I've become aware that going to court is a very likely possibility. I knew there's a chance of me having to go before I applied but the training has made it sound like that I could be going very often. As I am a Special I am concerned that too many court appearances could affect my day job. Therefore the question is, how often do you as Specials go to court in a year? Thanks!

Home Sec T.May has announced that police officers pay packets are to be reduced to save frontline police jobs nationwide in light of the deficit. This appears to fall beside the reduction in the 'police budget'. Are 'extrodinary circumstances' enough? what do you think about less pay for police? Is this a reasonable price to pay to save peoples jobs?

Hello All, I am at some what of a split decision. I have been a Special in Thames Valley for 2 and a bit years and have achieved my IP etc about 9 months ago. I am part of a fantastic team with great management and friendship. I also work very closely with Neighbourhood policing which gives me a great amount of enjoyment. However here is the problem I do want to become a regular and i am leaning towards British Transport Police. and I am also thinking if possible of transferring over as a Special. What are the benefits of BTP; by that I mean how valued are specials what experience and challenges can I see coming my way from that force? What are the opportunities lik…

I'm about to start 6th form in September at my school, as always, I'm looking around trying to get as much experience under my belt to help when I go to apply for the police. I've applied for customer service jobs but I can't do them until I have left school completely so that training won't mean taking 3 weeks off school!! Until then, I am putting myself forward as a mentor for the younger students in the school(years 7 - 9's) doing things such as advice, dealing with their problems and even a bit of counselling if they don't want to talk to teachers. Those who are in the job, do you reckon that this would be something worthwhile in terms of experience or would I be was…

I came across this subject on another site and it got me thinking. Say this was reported via a third party, should we be treating this as domestic abuse, even though it is apparently consensual, or should we be respecting peoples right to a private/family life and show tolerance towards their religious beliefs? Heres a link to a CDD website http://christiandomesticdiscipline.com/home.html

Hi all Some advice, 2 neighbours of mine last night were a victim of crime. One was mugged outside our block of flats and the other neighbour who happened to walk around the corner and got very seriously assaulted (intensive care). SOCO / CID turned up and did what they had to do. The upsetting thing is that this happened at 5.30pm in daylight and it could had happened to anyone else in the block coming home from work. We are all very traumatised and scared of coming/go now. I know crimes happen everywhere, they werent just my neighbours there were also friends. We all feel victims of crime. I had planned on selling up and leaving zone 2 to move out to a quiet…

In my line of work we are told to be clean shaven or have a beard. We can't have stubble that looks like we couldn't be bothered to shave. They tell us that if we want a beared, we are to grow one on our holiday. I thought it was the same for police officers, as someone mentioned in this forum before. If you take out the religious side of things, I tend to agree with my work. I was going to post a photo of a police officer that looked a little worse for wear & unshaven, but the photo would have to come from BBC iplayer and I'm unsure if I would be breaking any copyright laws if I posted it. With most people here being Law Enforcement, it's prob not a good idea …

A question my mum asked, made me think. Can officers arrest a member of their own family? Im expecting a sarky answer saying what a stupid question... But its the same theory in that Doctors, or people in the medical profession cant, or shouldnt treat family members. Judges and Mag's cant try family or anyone if they have a personal interes in the case. edit: grammer.. again.

is any specials alwed to take there airwave radio home with them?

apart from traffic offences or the occassional bit of cannabis etc. how often do you come across stuff direct? The public have an almost insatiable appetite for "bobbies on the beat" - police officers out on (normally foot) patrol. The idea that they are a greater presence and so on..... but how much work actually gets generated by officers coming across stuff rather than beign called to stuff. I like going out on foot - and do as often as I can - about 10 days ago I was lucky enough to come across some guys stealing a motorbike there and then in front of me: all in all it was a good job and I impressed my superiors and colleagues in actually being out and about pro-act…

With the major reorganistion of Warwickshire Police it has been decided that Specials can no longer work on the reactive shifts or even on the task force. ALL specials will be allocated to a Safer Neighbourhood Team and they can only undertake SNT jobs. This will cause many problems, especially the training of student specials who will no longer be able to gain valuable experience on the shifts. Many of the specials are not happy with this and as a result many have boycotted the national specials weekend. Has this type of decision effected your workings as well?? It would be interesting to know.

Hi all, not posted before but have been lurking for a while. Iv got an internal interview soon and have decided a long sleeve uniform shirt will look the part on the day, but unsure if i should crease the sleeve like I do with my short sleeve version? Not a huge concern but thoughts would be appreciated! D

This confuses me please clear this up for me. If I was to drive a dark road at night and forgot to put my lights on, to me that's careless and dangerous. so what would it be? If I was to pull out of a junction and not see the car that was coming towards the junction and therefore crashed, is that careless driving as I was not looking properly or is it dangerous as I sure a serious accident could occur? Is it a case of careless driving being " not paying attention, not intending to cause an accident/injury/death but due to a lack concentration the level of driver competency has fallen below a satisfactory standard" and Dangerous driving being " fully understanding the a…

An old saying in PSNI/RUC; "if you can't eat it, drink it or ###### it - break it." This means all gadgets, cars, equipment etc will inevitably be ruined at the hands of 'robert'. Just wondering if this is the same in your police forces? We got three new response cars last week, they're already all off the road for one reason or another. Do you get irritated when your colleagues have no respect for the gear we all rely on?