So far, so good

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!