With the third week of training now complete, it actually feels like I'm getting somewhere. The first two were very much an easy induction. Lots of small exercises, learning skills, getting to know eachother etc. No police-orientated learning to speak of, lots of early finishes, and a fair number of students straining at the leash, eager to start learning how to use our shiny new warrant cards.
This last week has been much more interesting. We've covered the basics of making a statement, evidence, licencing, offensive weapons, ASBOs, theft, civil disputes and criminal damage.
I'm getting to know everyone a little better now, and can't find major fault with any of them. I'm a little concerned I may be seen as a swot, as I tend to stick my hand up for the more difficult questions - I can't help it! I've done my homework, as it were, so I knew the caution from day one, could tell the tutors what a DIU is (Division Intelligence Unit), what you use a C22 for (reporting intel.) etc. Maybe some of the others know, but don't want to let on for some reason. I normally leave a little gap after the question has been asked, and don't bother with the stuff that people should know. Most of my info comes from chats with a good friend who is already in the job, and has briefed me on all sorts of basic stuff. Mostly I try and be an adult about it, and help fill those periods of silence after the tutor has asked a question, but every now and then (usually when a particular tutor asks if anyone else knows) I cringe a little bit at my own keenness. There's another chap on the course, slightly older than me who is similar, and I fear we may both have been pigeonholed as know-it-alls. Hopefully a strong performance on PDU (Professional Development Unit), where you actually do the job, will put things back on track. What happens on the streets is far removed from a nice, safe classroom, and forgetting things, or failure to act correctly there could have far worse consequences.
We're all really keen to get on the streets, well except perhaps one or two who have some fears about dealing with the public, and next week we start to learn 'street skills'. I'm not entirely sure what this involves, but I'm pretty sure there's no beatboxing or breakdancing. This will be followed by stop and search practice, first aid, and then we start to learn 'staff safety' AKA how to (legally and safely) knock the crap out of scumbags who want to have a go. Batons and noxious chemical sprays ahoy!
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Sunday, April 09, 2006
On week in...
So far, so good! It's been an easy week, lots of early finishes - I think they're taking it easy on us, calm before the storm and all that. It's all been about induction, and is reminiscent of my previous university experience. The basic 43 weeks will give me an Foundation Certificate in Policing in Partnership with Communities. Sounds impressive, huh? OK, maybe not. It's basically the educational equivalent of A levels, and we have the option to continue on to a Foundation Degree (similar to year one of a Ba/BSc).
My peers are pretty much without exception a sound bunch of people. There's the usual getting to know you stuff, which is progressing nicely. I imagine there will be a few people becoming good mates over the next ten months.
Wednesday was the Attestation day - a big moment in any officer's career. After a tour of our division's facilities, we took it in turns to be sworn in to the office of constable. This was done in front of a local magistrate, plus a range of senior officers. As we're the first intake, it seems a certain amount of fuss is being made. Most of us got our grubby mitts on the rest of our uniform at the end of the day. I resisted the urge to stick it all on when I got home. I did try the handcuffs out on my other half though - no, not for that purpose! They looked and felt like cheap tat, which according to a mate in the job is exactly what they are - £15 rather than his £50 cuffs which were previously issued. Cost-cutting at work, apparently.
On Friday we had a visit from the senior Police Federation rep, plus a Welfare lady. Lots of things to sign up for (and hence pay subs) - I think I've been relieved to the tune of £40 a month, but it all seems fairly worthwhile. PolFed membership, charity donations, life insurance, staff lottery, I've lost track of the full list. Like freshers fair really, but with much more serious consequences. It seems (and there were plenty of tales to back this up) that PolFed are there to haul your arse out of the fire in the event that anything goes tits up. Of course you might have dug yourself a hole too deep to get out of, but it's a comfort to know they're a call away if it all goes FUBAR...
Tomorrow all three courses will meet at my uni for some lectures, and we've been told the local rag may be on hand to record the occasion. Whoopee. I'm incredibly un-photogenic, so I'll be lurking at the back, hopefully well out of sight.
My peers are pretty much without exception a sound bunch of people. There's the usual getting to know you stuff, which is progressing nicely. I imagine there will be a few people becoming good mates over the next ten months.
Wednesday was the Attestation day - a big moment in any officer's career. After a tour of our division's facilities, we took it in turns to be sworn in to the office of constable. This was done in front of a local magistrate, plus a range of senior officers. As we're the first intake, it seems a certain amount of fuss is being made. Most of us got our grubby mitts on the rest of our uniform at the end of the day. I resisted the urge to stick it all on when I got home. I did try the handcuffs out on my other half though - no, not for that purpose! They looked and felt like cheap tat, which according to a mate in the job is exactly what they are - £15 rather than his £50 cuffs which were previously issued. Cost-cutting at work, apparently.
On Friday we had a visit from the senior Police Federation rep, plus a Welfare lady. Lots of things to sign up for (and hence pay subs) - I think I've been relieved to the tune of £40 a month, but it all seems fairly worthwhile. PolFed membership, charity donations, life insurance, staff lottery, I've lost track of the full list. Like freshers fair really, but with much more serious consequences. It seems (and there were plenty of tales to back this up) that PolFed are there to haul your arse out of the fire in the event that anything goes tits up. Of course you might have dug yourself a hole too deep to get out of, but it's a comfort to know they're a call away if it all goes FUBAR...
Tomorrow all three courses will meet at my uni for some lectures, and we've been told the local rag may be on hand to record the occasion. Whoopee. I'm incredibly un-photogenic, so I'll be lurking at the back, hopefully well out of sight.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Day One
Well, it's been informative! We started with introductions then had a couple of hours of Q & A about the course. I can see this new scheme really is a departure from the training formula used for the last 60 years. There is considerable emphasis that we are students, rather than recruits. My classmates all see very sensible, well-balanced individuals, and it seems the majority are in their late 20's or early 30's. Of the 20 people starting the course, I can't help but wonder how many of us will reach the end of probation. It was encouraging to see that most of my fellow students are as excited (and concerned) as I am about our new career.
After lunch we were treated to a visit from the DCC (Deputy Chief Constable), an amiable chap in his 50's who spoke about the opportunities available, the policing 'family' and the changes our force faces with the proposed merger. It was interesting to hear him talk of the two different streams of information concerning our merger with a neighbouring force. He described the media stream, which is highly critical, insisting far greater funding is needed, and he talked about the unpublicised view. This is that with greater funding and an amalgamation of 'premier' services such as serious crime and firearms units, greater efficiency will follow whilst ground-level policing remains unaffected. I'm going to ask a variety of different officers of various ranks what their opinions are, as and when the opportunity arises over the next few months.
Finally, we were issued a basic uniform (short-sleeved shirt, eppaulettes, tie, trousers, belt and shoes for those like me who had purchased them via the stores), and a range of chunky Blackstones textbooks. Blimey they're heavy when you've got to walk a mile or so with 'em!
All-in-all a tiring but very exciting day...
After lunch we were treated to a visit from the DCC (Deputy Chief Constable), an amiable chap in his 50's who spoke about the opportunities available, the policing 'family' and the changes our force faces with the proposed merger. It was interesting to hear him talk of the two different streams of information concerning our merger with a neighbouring force. He described the media stream, which is highly critical, insisting far greater funding is needed, and he talked about the unpublicised view. This is that with greater funding and an amalgamation of 'premier' services such as serious crime and firearms units, greater efficiency will follow whilst ground-level policing remains unaffected. I'm going to ask a variety of different officers of various ranks what their opinions are, as and when the opportunity arises over the next few months.
Finally, we were issued a basic uniform (short-sleeved shirt, eppaulettes, tie, trousers, belt and shoes for those like me who had purchased them via the stores), and a range of chunky Blackstones textbooks. Blimey they're heavy when you've got to walk a mile or so with 'em!
All-in-all a tiring but very exciting day...
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