Still here...

I've been utterly worthless at keeping this updated. Loads has happened over the last 12 weeks, training is fantastic but hard work and I've not been dedicated enough to write it all up. Opps...

Still, I have my first leave next week, so I'm intending to put some proper posts up then.

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!

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.

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...

Police Federation Meeting

I attended a fascinating Police Federation Open Meeting last week. Approximately 300 officers attended, predominantly from my force, with someofficers from other forces present. The theme of the meeting was changes tothe police service. Key elements of this were the proposals to merge county forces into regional entities, and the new pensions and other benefit changes. A well-known journalist, who did an excellent job of controlling debate, chaired the proceedings. It would seem that my force is being pushed into a merger with another force, and that this decision will be formally made by the Home Secretary this Monday. There is a lot of resentment from the rank and file about the proposed changes. Many officers are sceptical of promises that the resulting efficiency will lead to greater front-line funding. A common fear is that this funding will be used to recruit more PCSOs to the force, which the majority of officers disagree with. It was clear from listening to the proceedings that a large number of officers have opinions at odds with senior management and national government opinion. There was a tangible sense that a number of changes are wanted. The primary issue was funding - everyone from the Chief Constable down agreed that the force was under-funded, and this is having a direct impact on their ability to effectively do their jobs.

Learning to Learn

I attended a workshop on Saturday with 13 other new recruits, held at the university where I'll be based. I'd spoken to a mate in the job about the unusual request in the joining instructions to 'think of times when you have been curious, playful and filled with a sense of adventure'. He reckoned that, knowing who was leading the training, it would be lots of hand-holding and reassurance. He was right, but the day was enjoyable and useful, rather than a load of management-speak and new-age twaddle.

The day gave me some insight as to how the classroom-based learning would be conducted, and I was pleased with what I saw. It seems to have been very well thought out (and as they've spent two years preparing, I should hope so too). There will be lots of individual study, allowing students to work at their own pace, lots of assistance where needed and generally a lot more like the university experience, as opposed to the boot camp that is police training college.

Whilst discussing when and how we'd be issued our uniforms, I observed that when it comes to kit, the last person you can trust is a copper. The tutors were fretting that if the boxes of uniform for us new recruits turned up at the station we'd be training at, the contents would disappear in a flash. Quite why we can't make our way up to stores and collect it ourselves I don't know - we had to make our own way there for fitting. The sooner I get my gear the sooner I'll feel that this is all actually happening. It's been so long since I applied that the whole process has become rather abstract. I think the reality will finally hit home when I am attested (sworn in) as a PC, and my warrant card is issued. This is 30 days away.

PCSOs

This current government's insistence that forces recruit PCSOs rather than police officers is not popular within the ranks - it is seen as a 'dumbing down' or a weakening of the police. After all, PCSOs are not trained or empowered to the same degree as officers, and starting salaries for PCSOs are only marginally less that those of PCs. This may gradually change. There are suggestions that PCSOs may be given powers of arrest, batons and CS sprays. The original proposal that they operate as the eyes and ears of the police is being altered to provide police on the cheap - except they're not really that cheap. Certainly they are not recruited or trained to the same standards as PCs, so cost savings are made there...

It is possible that the unstated goal is to create a three-tiered European system of law enforcement - a national body for investigating serious and organized crime, regional forces to deal with other offences and local teams of uniformed officers to patrol the streets.

Training

Until recently, it was normal for all new recruits to spend several months at a police training college. These were run in a military style - parades, inspections etc. They taught all a new recruit needed to know in theory - but with no practice. The new thinking is that training can be better provided on the job, with shorter stints of classroom-based theory backed up with practical experience on the street. This may also work out cheaper for the individual forces when compared to months of residential training via Centrex. I understand that the basic Police Training College course costs forces around £25,000 per officer. Non-residential training puts more uniforms on the streets too - never a bad thing given the shortages of officers. I'm missing out on a long tradition that accompanies the police colleges - things like passing out parades were scrapped a couple of years ago. I would imagine it is all part of a move away from a more formal, military-style police 'force' to a less formal, civilian police 'service'. For example, senior officers (inspectors and above) are addressed as 'sir' or 'ma'am' - it wouldn't surprise me to learn that these might be phased out (though I’ve not had any indication that this might happen).

The Recruitment Process and Other Trials

So I quit my job, sold my sports car and got a temping job – I’d been told it was a six month recruiting process… oh dear. Now, two years on, I’m only just about to start my training. The reason for this? There are a few. I decided to apply just as a massive national campaign was in full swing, swelling applicant numbers significantly. Additionally the force I’m joining will accept everyone who meets the national admission standards, whereas many other forces cherry-pick the top candidates in any given campaign. Furthermore, Centrex (the recruitment and training organisation for the police) revised the selection process to give a much better quality of candidate overall, meaning many more decent candidates got through. The result? I will end up temping for two years in total, plus I miss out on the decent pension scheme by 3 DAYS! This last part is the fault of a former employer, a multinational so inept that something as simple as an employment reference took them ten weeks to generate. No wonder they are closing offices left, right and centre, what a total shower of bastards. Oh well…

More Info on this site

I spent a great deal of time researching what life as a police officer involved prior to my decision to apply. From speaking to numerous serving officers on a regualr basis, I discovered that it is both very rewarding and equally frustrating.

I hope to offer a detailed insight of what is involved in police work, what the journalists and documentary makers often don’t have access to, don’t have time to broadcast or space to print. I aim to give a detailed and continuously updated account of what police officers do each day. By starting this website before I begin my training. I also intend to give an overview of the recruitment process and the new training system. I’m on the first intake for my force of non-residential training – rather than spending months on a residential training course at a police training college. Instead I will spend forty-two weeks at my local university, out of uniform, learning the basics, interspersed with two-week periods on the streets accompanied by a tutor constable. There will also be a number of community placements lasting two weeks each, focusing on diversity.

Why become a police officer?

Ever sit at your desk wondering what the f*^k you’re doing at 2.50 on a wet Tuesday afternoon? Ever flick through the paper and feel your head pound and your blood boil as you read about the latest mugging/rape/murder just down the road? I did, for years. When I left university, I knew I didn’t want an office job. After spending my teens gearing up for a career in the RAF, only to be let down by my dodgy hearing (not quite good enough to be a pilot) I considered the police, but put it aside thinking I should do what my peers were doing and chase the money. An exhausting five years on, having slogged my guts out 60 hours a week (yes, really) for a faceless multinational whose annual profits outstrip most developing countries’ GDP, I decided I really wasn’t interested in the money anymore.

I’m not under the illusion that I’ll become a hero, I pay no attention to many portrayals of police work being glamourous. I’m not out to get my own back at the world, but damn it, I certainly do want to see more justice in this country. I know I’ve let myself in for an often unpleasant, frequently thankless twenty-five-year slog. However, it should also be constantly varying, frequently exciting, and most importantly very interesting. If I’ve got to spend the next 25 years working like a bastard for something, it might as well be something truly worthwhile, rather than a never-ending cycle aimed squarely at the bottom line or my bank statement. I’m not an idealist; I’m very pragmatic and just cynical enough to be able to see the advantages and disadvantages of this career.

Call me a mug if you will, but someone’s got to do it, and I think most people don’t have the guts to step up and take the responsibility.

And the purpose of this site is?

What do you know about the daily working life of the average PC? Probably a fair amount, given the number of articles and TV programmes dedicated to the subject. We all know that the reality of police work is not usually going to be similar to The Bill or any other crime drama, but then again is it all car chases and getting a result every five minutes, as seen in Road Wars, Traffic Cops etc? No, of course not, there's far more to it than those edited highlights. Police work is a fascinating career, and the general public have a huge appetite for anything related to it. So far, with the odd exception such as Raw Blues, where cameras followed an intake through training at Hendon Police College, very few people have tried to give the full picture of what police work involves.