Career in Plod.....
Discussion
OK OK, the Police (and the Gov) stand for everything (road, motorist wise) that I stand against. But having just looked at the Strathy Police Web Site Recruitment section, a career in Plod sounds quite appealing, especially an "in the door" salary of £17K a year! OK, not the mega bucks you Tiv driving blokes are on, but we all start somewhere, right?
Can I ask our resident Plodman to give me an Idea what life in the Plod is like please!! The Site has a little bit on the daily life, but like the Military, they Glorify it slightly!
Cheers
Stuart!
Can I ask our resident Plodman to give me an Idea what life in the Plod is like please!! The Site has a little bit on the daily life, but like the Military, they Glorify it slightly!
Cheers
Stuart!
If you want to become rich in the money sense then don't even consider asking for an application form.
If you want to become rich in the experience of life, then send for them.
I have been serving for 22 years and apart from the odd downer which everyone gets in any sort of career from time to time, I can quite honestly say that I have not regretted the last 22 years.
Depending on where you apply to join will have a big impact on the standard of living that you can expect. I can tell you that in the home counties 17000 does not go very far.
There are a huge number of job specialisms that you can eventually apply for on completion of probationary training.
These range from or come under the headings of
CID based departments like
Scenes of Crime (Forensics)
Technical support teams (fixing listening devices and tracking equipment to aid investigations(exciting but dodgy).)
Drug squad
Porn Squads
Family protection and Sexual offence depts.
Surveilence Depts
Regional Crime squad (Now National Crime Squad)
Proffesional standards depts ( Looking at corruption and Discipline issues)
Then there are those that are based on the uniform specialisms
Traffic Dept
Driving School instructors
Mounted sections
Dog sections
Marine and river sections ( Divers and boat patrols)
Armed response teams
Protection Depts (sensitive sites and important people)
Public Order Depts (Training and tactical advice on deployment at riots and demonstrations)
Air Support units (Helicopters)
And probably quite a few that I can't think of at the moment.
There is always the oportunity to do a few years at one specialism and then move over to another.
There is no need to specialise at all. You can have just as an exciting and rewarding career by staying in uniform on local patrol duties, trying the promotion ladder ( To reach high ranks requires some sort of degree status these days unless you prove to be outstanding) or becoming a home beat officer.
What I will tell you though is that at the moment moral is not good. There is a large number of people within the service that are leaving due to the stress and strain of lack of resources.
The work is demanding and requires dedication.
Your social life will become dictated by shift work and inconvenient hours.
You will lose some of your 'friends'.
You will gain many more, not just within the service.
The social life within the service can be fantastic.
Joining the Police is like joining a large family that is nothing like you could imagine outside of the service.
This does not mean that everybody is covering up for everyone else. Quite the opposite.
It is Comradeship, understanding and support.
Team work is absolutely essential and it feels good to be in that arena.
Welfare is fantastic. The service (generally) really looks after those that are injured through duty or not, or become ill. This is all part of the team work side.
All of this is a bonus on top of a job which you never know what to expect next.
Some of the things you see will not be easy to deal with, physically or emotionally.
Some will require great strength of character and determination.
Some things will leave you feeling hugely frustrated and angry.
Some times you will be in personal danger.
There are many reasons that a career within the Police Service can be very rewarding. The best thing you can do if you are serious about joining is to telephone the recruiting Dept for the information about what is expected and what they can offer you.
You could also go to your local station and ask if you could accompany one of the teams there over a weekend of late shifts or night shifts. Speak to the local station Sergeant or Inspector and explain. Most forces will accommodate you as an observer.
You could also look at joining the special constabulary who work together with full time officers.
The bad feeling between full time and specail officers has long since gone and we are grateful to those that give up their time to assist us (OH, AND BY THE WAY YOU GET PAID FOR THAT TOO NOW)
I have recently taken two people out on several different occassions, who were curious. One has just applied to the MET. the other is now in the tenth week of training in Thames valley.
You will lose absolutely nothing by trying it
All I can say is 'Suck it and see'
>> Edited by madcop on Wednesday 31st July 21:22
If you want to become rich in the experience of life, then send for them.
I have been serving for 22 years and apart from the odd downer which everyone gets in any sort of career from time to time, I can quite honestly say that I have not regretted the last 22 years.
Depending on where you apply to join will have a big impact on the standard of living that you can expect. I can tell you that in the home counties 17000 does not go very far.
There are a huge number of job specialisms that you can eventually apply for on completion of probationary training.
These range from or come under the headings of
CID based departments like
Scenes of Crime (Forensics)
Technical support teams (fixing listening devices and tracking equipment to aid investigations(exciting but dodgy).)
Drug squad
Porn Squads
Family protection and Sexual offence depts.
Surveilence Depts
Regional Crime squad (Now National Crime Squad)
Proffesional standards depts ( Looking at corruption and Discipline issues)
Then there are those that are based on the uniform specialisms
Traffic Dept
Driving School instructors
Mounted sections
Dog sections
Marine and river sections ( Divers and boat patrols)
Armed response teams
Protection Depts (sensitive sites and important people)
Public Order Depts (Training and tactical advice on deployment at riots and demonstrations)
Air Support units (Helicopters)
And probably quite a few that I can't think of at the moment.
There is always the oportunity to do a few years at one specialism and then move over to another.
There is no need to specialise at all. You can have just as an exciting and rewarding career by staying in uniform on local patrol duties, trying the promotion ladder ( To reach high ranks requires some sort of degree status these days unless you prove to be outstanding) or becoming a home beat officer.
What I will tell you though is that at the moment moral is not good. There is a large number of people within the service that are leaving due to the stress and strain of lack of resources.
The work is demanding and requires dedication.
Your social life will become dictated by shift work and inconvenient hours.
You will lose some of your 'friends'.
You will gain many more, not just within the service.
The social life within the service can be fantastic.
Joining the Police is like joining a large family that is nothing like you could imagine outside of the service.
This does not mean that everybody is covering up for everyone else. Quite the opposite.
It is Comradeship, understanding and support.
Team work is absolutely essential and it feels good to be in that arena.
Welfare is fantastic. The service (generally) really looks after those that are injured through duty or not, or become ill. This is all part of the team work side.
All of this is a bonus on top of a job which you never know what to expect next.
Some of the things you see will not be easy to deal with, physically or emotionally.
Some will require great strength of character and determination.
Some things will leave you feeling hugely frustrated and angry.
Some times you will be in personal danger.
There are many reasons that a career within the Police Service can be very rewarding. The best thing you can do if you are serious about joining is to telephone the recruiting Dept for the information about what is expected and what they can offer you.
You could also go to your local station and ask if you could accompany one of the teams there over a weekend of late shifts or night shifts. Speak to the local station Sergeant or Inspector and explain. Most forces will accommodate you as an observer.
You could also look at joining the special constabulary who work together with full time officers.
The bad feeling between full time and specail officers has long since gone and we are grateful to those that give up their time to assist us (OH, AND BY THE WAY YOU GET PAID FOR THAT TOO NOW)
I have recently taken two people out on several different occassions, who were curious. One has just applied to the MET. the other is now in the tenth week of training in Thames valley.
You will lose absolutely nothing by trying it
All I can say is 'Suck it and see'
>> Edited by madcop on Wednesday 31st July 21:22
quote:
Joining the Police is like joining a large family that is nothing like you could imagine outside of the service.
This does not mean that everybody is covering up for everyone else. Quite the opposite.
It is Comradeship, understanding and support.
I've a very good mate who has been in the job for about 6 years, and the above quote is very true.
I've met many people who work with him and they are a very close nit but open bunch of people - Nice bunch of guys.
My mate started off on the beat but has gone through much training, including advanced pursuit driving and firearms. He really enjoys it. He's now in the TSG.
Carzee, yes we do get the bill, but the last one I saw a long serving officer turned into a pervert! Hmmm!
Cheers Madcop, sounds good. The 'Family' life you mention is the same reason I wanted to join the RAF, but sadly, that has since departed, or is not as strong as it once was! My mums cousin is a serving officer at my local 'Main' station (Strathclyde have little police offices in most towns and villages but in my area, all answer to Saltcoats) so I might have a chat with him.
The Strathclyde Specials are voluntary round here, I thought about joining them too, but I'd be better off in the TA!
Cheers
Stuart!
Cheers Madcop, sounds good. The 'Family' life you mention is the same reason I wanted to join the RAF, but sadly, that has since departed, or is not as strong as it once was! My mums cousin is a serving officer at my local 'Main' station (Strathclyde have little police offices in most towns and villages but in my area, all answer to Saltcoats) so I might have a chat with him.
The Strathclyde Specials are voluntary round here, I thought about joining them too, but I'd be better off in the TA!
Cheers
Stuart!
quote:
Carzee, yes we do get the bill, but the last one I saw a long serving officer turned into a pervert! Hmmm!
Cheers Madcop, sounds good. The 'Family' life you mention is the same reason I wanted to join the RAF, but sadly, that has since departed, or is not as strong as it once was! My mums cousin is a serving officer at my local 'Main' station (Strathclyde have little police offices in most towns and villages but in my area, all answer to Saltcoats) so I might have a chat with him.
The Strathclyde Specials are voluntary round here, I thought about joining them too, but I'd be better off in the TA!
Cheers
Stuart!
They're usually quite helpful to potential recruits. If you're keen enough, they may let you shadow for a day to see what's really involved in a day's work. Given your location, probably not anywhere in U Division. Still, Paisley isn't that far away !
quote:
They're usually quite helpful to potential recruits. If you're keen enough, they may let you shadow for a day to see what's really involved in a day's work. Given your location, probably not anywhere in U Division. Still, Paisley isn't that far away !
Why is U division important?!
My area is U division. Covers all of mainland Ayrshire, as well as The Islands of Cumbrae (wee and big) as well as Arran!
I look out the window and see Arran! My Location, Ayrshire!
Have to disagree a little with Madcop.
The Police Force (hate the word service) is good if you want a career for life, an exciting job, a reasonable standard of living, the chance to do stuff other people only see on TV, very good friends..etc etc.
Unfortunately...
Because forces are so accountable you get shafted the first time you make a mistake...just so they can be seen to do something......Shafted means fined up to 14 days pay......
The job for life will go when 10 year contracts come in...as will the pension scheme.
You'll be expected to meet performance indicators as well as managing your paperwork, carrying out enquires and keep a personal development journal up to date so you can show you have actually done something.
You'll be expected to work a long shift, then work over for nothing.
Get used to people disliking you...unless they want something.
The Police service is no longer the happy family it used to be, we have a federation that has zero powers, so we get shafted by Blunkett left right, and straight up the middle. Worst of all, its full of people who joined not make a difference, but to make a career in management and to hell with those they trample to get there.....
I'm sure Madcop will find some of this familiar....
Having said that, in the 6 years (still a baby) since I joined I have not once not wanted to go to work and get nagged like made cause I hate taking time off.
It’s a good laugh and a rewarding career, but prepared to be shafted on a regular basis...
Rob
>> Edited by relaxitscool on Thursday 1st August 23:25
The Police Force (hate the word service) is good if you want a career for life, an exciting job, a reasonable standard of living, the chance to do stuff other people only see on TV, very good friends..etc etc.
Unfortunately...
Because forces are so accountable you get shafted the first time you make a mistake...just so they can be seen to do something......Shafted means fined up to 14 days pay......
The job for life will go when 10 year contracts come in...as will the pension scheme.
You'll be expected to meet performance indicators as well as managing your paperwork, carrying out enquires and keep a personal development journal up to date so you can show you have actually done something.
You'll be expected to work a long shift, then work over for nothing.
Get used to people disliking you...unless they want something.
The Police service is no longer the happy family it used to be, we have a federation that has zero powers, so we get shafted by Blunkett left right, and straight up the middle. Worst of all, its full of people who joined not make a difference, but to make a career in management and to hell with those they trample to get there.....
I'm sure Madcop will find some of this familiar....
Having said that, in the 6 years (still a baby) since I joined I have not once not wanted to go to work and get nagged like made cause I hate taking time off.
It’s a good laugh and a rewarding career, but prepared to be shafted on a regular basis...
Rob
>> Edited by relaxitscool on Thursday 1st August 23:25
Yes rob I know exactly what you mean. The PDR system sucks and tell me about the 'drop a bollock' and allarm bells ring all the way up to the puzzle palace then everyone with a pip or crown wants some of the action. Strange that the same doesn't happen if you put yourself out or do a really good job. No one seems to notice then
Shafted is what everyone gets within the public sector. If you think we have it bad just ask an ambulance driver! or maybe even a teacher.
Police work must be about the only job in the world where you don't get paid for the first half hour of overtime you work. (unless you are a teacher or a nurse, then you just don't get paid)
You are right though about having a laugh. I have spent the last 22 years having a laugh at myself, colleagues and the public where it is appropriate.
If the job wasn't run by politicians and spineless managers, Police work would be the best job in the world and probably the most rewarding at times.
>> Edited by madcop on Friday 2nd August 02:44
Shafted is what everyone gets within the public sector. If you think we have it bad just ask an ambulance driver! or maybe even a teacher.
Police work must be about the only job in the world where you don't get paid for the first half hour of overtime you work. (unless you are a teacher or a nurse, then you just don't get paid)
You are right though about having a laugh. I have spent the last 22 years having a laugh at myself, colleagues and the public where it is appropriate.
If the job wasn't run by politicians and spineless managers, Police work would be the best job in the world and probably the most rewarding at times.
>> Edited by madcop on Friday 2nd August 02:44
I was 17, and cleaning my motorcycle outside my house one sunny day. I lived in a fairly quiet area. As I was cleaning the bike, a Panda car pulled up, and the bobby looks over to me. I, being young, half expected him to admire the shiny chrome work on my squeaky clean 175cc machine. Instead he said, "Sonny, if I come round here again one evening and see your bike parked at an angle without it's rear light showing fully to the rear, I'm going to nick you". The camber mattered not to him, but nor did this incident to me, because I still joined the police a year later in the late 70's.
However, unlike the positive comments raised in the previous threads, my short stint in the Force was a nightmare.
1. I was the only unmarried bloke on our shift, (I was 18 at the time so perhaps a bit unlucky).
2. The PC charged with HAVING to supervise me in my new role wouldn't call me by my name, but as "Shagnasty", and "F***nasty". I was obviously a burdon to him.
3. Virtually all of my shift were having extra marital affairs. Shouldn't have bothered me, but it did, particularly when I'd occasionally see their spouces out and about to say hello to.
4. A PC on my late shift offered a drunk in the cells, a cup of tea. I was pleasantly surprised - until the drunk, whilst having nodded off, dropped the cup to the floor which illicited the PC opening the door and laying into him.
5. On late shift, it was common practice to sleep all 4 of the shift in the panda car from 3.00am, til 5.30am up on a cliff-top. The town was technically un-policed for this time.
6. Between 5.30 - 5.45am, to make up the milage at the end of such a shift, (and show we had been driving around and working), the Police driver would hack up and down a long 30mph road at 90mph until said milage was acheived.
7. My esteemed collegue, (the aforementioned charged with taking me through my induction), and myself, were standing next to an old Mini Van. It was rusty and one door panel was starting to come away at the bottom. "Arn't you going to give this car a ticket for dangerous condition?" he asks me. "Well, it's not exactly dangerous, you can't catch yourself on it can you?", I replied, slightly bemused by his fervour. He leant down, and pulled the panel hard so that it was now sticking out - about 8 inches, "It is now", he says. I get my notebook out, just as a man appears from across the road. He wants to know why we are booking his car, and he says he also knows that wasn't how he'd left the car. His eyes accused, but he didnt actually SAY we had done it. I felt pig sick,, but was told to caution him none-the-less.
8. The civilian girl who took calls at the nick was found drunk in her car after a Saturday night out. She was a nice lass, - apparently - so she was chapporoned to her home by a Panda car, and tucked up in bed. Oh how the station laughed.
I appreciate that I may be one of very few to have found the force like this, and perhaps after all these years such a scenario wouldn't ever be repeated. I was only in the force for 7 months, 3 of those was at a training school, 4 at a seaside town in the south-east. I became dissolusioned to say the least and left feeling a complete failure.
I don't dislike Bobbies, but if the lot I was stationed with are anything to go by, steer a careful course around the career aspect and DO take the advice offered earlier about sitting in for a day or two, prior to further consideration.
Kind regards PHIL
However, unlike the positive comments raised in the previous threads, my short stint in the Force was a nightmare.
1. I was the only unmarried bloke on our shift, (I was 18 at the time so perhaps a bit unlucky).
2. The PC charged with HAVING to supervise me in my new role wouldn't call me by my name, but as "Shagnasty", and "F***nasty". I was obviously a burdon to him.
3. Virtually all of my shift were having extra marital affairs. Shouldn't have bothered me, but it did, particularly when I'd occasionally see their spouces out and about to say hello to.
4. A PC on my late shift offered a drunk in the cells, a cup of tea. I was pleasantly surprised - until the drunk, whilst having nodded off, dropped the cup to the floor which illicited the PC opening the door and laying into him.
5. On late shift, it was common practice to sleep all 4 of the shift in the panda car from 3.00am, til 5.30am up on a cliff-top. The town was technically un-policed for this time.
6. Between 5.30 - 5.45am, to make up the milage at the end of such a shift, (and show we had been driving around and working), the Police driver would hack up and down a long 30mph road at 90mph until said milage was acheived.
7. My esteemed collegue, (the aforementioned charged with taking me through my induction), and myself, were standing next to an old Mini Van. It was rusty and one door panel was starting to come away at the bottom. "Arn't you going to give this car a ticket for dangerous condition?" he asks me. "Well, it's not exactly dangerous, you can't catch yourself on it can you?", I replied, slightly bemused by his fervour. He leant down, and pulled the panel hard so that it was now sticking out - about 8 inches, "It is now", he says. I get my notebook out, just as a man appears from across the road. He wants to know why we are booking his car, and he says he also knows that wasn't how he'd left the car. His eyes accused, but he didnt actually SAY we had done it. I felt pig sick,
8. The civilian girl who took calls at the nick was found drunk in her car after a Saturday night out. She was a nice lass, - apparently - so she was chapporoned to her home by a Panda car, and tucked up in bed. Oh how the station laughed.
I appreciate that I may be one of very few to have found the force like this, and perhaps after all these years such a scenario wouldn't ever be repeated. I was only in the force for 7 months, 3 of those was at a training school, 4 at a seaside town in the south-east. I became dissolusioned to say the least and left feeling a complete failure.
I don't dislike Bobbies, but if the lot I was stationed with are anything to go by, steer a careful course around the career aspect and DO take the advice offered earlier about sitting in for a day or two, prior to further consideration.
Kind regards PHIL
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