General Policing Discussions

I'm currently in the regulars application process (passed my assessment centre, waiting for an in-force interview) and am enjoying my experience as a special in the meantime. Assuming that vacancies are available at some point, that I am successful and do join full time - my wife and I will have to make sacrifices as we adjust to a significantly reduced household income. I'm sure that's something other people have been through when joining full time, particularly in the initial couple of years. How did you adjust and what sort of sacrifices did you have to make? Any regrets? I'm just interested in other people's experiences and thoughts, especially if you've moved fr…

Hello, I am not a police officer. I check tickets for a rail compand within London. I am, what they call a "revenue protection inspector" I was shocked to hear that from April this year full time Met officers will have to pay tax on the so called "FREE TRAVLE", which was never free in the first place,because the Met paid about 3million per year to ATOC for their officers travle. so with alll the cuts and the fact that the capital depends on its police officers I am stunned that they plan to charge each officer, via tax, to travel after the tax year in April. Will it not Drive Away Met Officers??? You guys/Girls are what London needs so why does the goverment/police …

As I'm sure you'll know the National Specials Weekend is coming up, and this year's theme is Anti-Social Behaviour. We're planning to have as many specials as possible in to hit the hotspots with a mixture of high-vis and plain clothes patrols. What's your plan? - I might steal any different decent ideas for taskings John

Ian Collins is wanting people to call in about the special constabulary... what powers they have and what the requirements there are to join, hes talking about volunteers as a whole to do with this "big society" Ian seems pro special and he said in jest hes thinking of joining the met! - Since Ian is based in London it might be worth some of you Met SCs calling in! Listen Live (Top left) Just a heads up

I just wondered how hard it is to actually achieve IPS, and if the things you have to do to obtain it the same for all forces? What in your opinion is the hardest thing to "tick off" so to speak? Just curious

Just wondering how strict different Forces are about smoking on duty? By the way I am a Garda Reserve in Ireland. I know the rule is you are not to smoke on duty but if I am out on the beat with someone who smokes and he decides to have one I usually have a smoke too. There are a couple of places - laneways mainly - where people go to have a quick smoke if it is quiet. Last weekend while having a smoke we got nabbed by a Sergeant who was doing his rounds and gave both of us a telling off for it! It was like being back at school trying to hide the smoke. I know I shouldn't have been smoking in uniform but as the Garda I was with was doing it I didn't think too much about …

Just reading another post about CS at the UNCUT protests. How many people here have been involved in a CS incident that resulted in a 'bad reaction'? I know they can occur, but I've not seen any and only heard of one in my Area recently. I've deduced that I am not allergic... Is there more chance of it happening if the spray is outta date? Oops...wrong forum. Can someone move it?

what do you feel makes a "good"arrest? It's a conversation I was having with a colleague the other day.... When I first started I thought it would be nicking people for the "big" offences, GBH, Murder, Rape etc. However, having nicked people for those sorts of crimes I've not gained the same sort of satisfaction from arresting them as for other mor eminor offences. Whether that is because Several arrests stick in my mind as being my "favourite" or, rather, ones I've had the most satisfaction from: 1. The first time I knicked a chap when I was a probationer, one of the first times I'd been on solo foot patrol - I spotted the suspect for a minor criminal damage after a d…

Just wondered if someone could answer a question! My friend informs me that even as a special, if you were to go onto a train and flash your warrant card there's a gentleman's agreement and you wouldn't get charged a rail fare? Obviously not the reason I'm joining the specials but be interesting to know!

does anyone know what year and what act established the office of special constables?

No this is not another "Can I flash my warrant card" thread We've had enough of those. How many of you "tutted" when you read the thread title I am just interested in hearing story's of times when officers have helped other officers or made off duty arrests. I have only helped out once. I was driving home after a lates shift when I saw a car stopped in the middle of the road with the rear windscreen smashed and glass all over the road. Naturally I stopped to see if the driver was ok when he stated someone had thrown a bottle off the multi story which has smashed his windscreen whilst driving along. He was already on the phone to the police but he knew very little Eng…

After the initial basic training and being able to go out doing the job and becoming competent at that, what options are there (if any?!) for extra training in other areas? such as driving for example?

Odd question, but does anyone know the situation with attending court during paternity leave? Obviously you'd have to attend court, but does it count as leave still or a normal working day?

Evening all, after a mammoth three year application process, I'm finally part of the Special Constabulary and enjoying every minute of it. However, my daytime beat has proved notoriously quiet on the 7 or so shifts I've been out, which has resulted in no stop and searches, despite this being pivotal to my day to day beat duties. I took the initiative and stop/searched on one occasion yet it wasn't carried out with the greatest finesse in the world despite the other party being totally compliant. I'd like some constructive advice on the legal indicators which would lead me to conduct a stop search and then any experiences you'd like to share about how best to deal with t…