Brilliant as usual. Brings back loads of memories. As far as I’m aware I don’t think the PSNI have direct detective entry, you still have to do your two years probation in uniform. I think you definitely need that grounding first. The police depot teaches you the basics, you don’t actually learn to be a police officer until you hit the public. Sometimes the police would be a fantastic job if you didn’t have to interact with some members of the public!!
This blog should be compulsory reading for anyone wishing to join up. Although my background is in colonial policing, the themes raised here are spot on.
I hate that they allow direct entry detectives. What happened to paying your dues? All the reforms do just seem like austerity measures in a thin disguise. The most concerning is using police to police online comments? What is that?
I chose the dip in and out of departments model, almost exclusively in uniform bouncing between Home Office secondments, operational shifts and control room roles up to running 100 staff comms centres. I had opportunity to indulge my penchant for technology which provided a second career at the age of 51, when I’d done my 30. I’m still working at 74 because I tried retiring and didn’t like it. The skills you get are so transferable.
But I’m not sure if I hadn’t a decent final salary pension or I’d had to serve until I was 60 that I’d ever be able to do it.
Mostly loved my time in the job, and have many friends from that time. The cost to family life is high but selfishly worth it.
The experiences I had in the police with the full spectrum of society, from feeling like an animal keeper to crying at a cot death, to watching road collision victims die in front of me as we couldn’t get them out quickly enough, to laughing at inappropriate moments with colleagues, were extremely rewarding and probably only matched by other emergency service or armed forces people. Still laugh now at the discarded tailor’s dummies we used to throw off multi storey car parks to alarm passing probationary constables, or sending them to collect specimens of water at high tide in the Docks.
I wouldn’t have missed it for the world but don’t think I would have survived today’s strictures and attitudes.
I was ‘hands on’ helping arrest a very drunk, very aggressive, driver a week ago. I’m ex blue light family, unfortunately not ex job. Single crewed traffic officer amazed he got assistance from a mop. Everyone just stands and gets their phones out to video. I amazed I controlled my pathological hatred of drunk drivers!
Healthy Churn is rarely mentioned now by chief constables. Those who advocated it are long gone. Expecting the complex policing environment of 21st century UK to be navigated by short timers was folly. It is akin to the 19 year draftees who were sent into the jungles of Vietnam. When those who survived, gained experience and developed skills it was time for them to return to the States. In the context of policing they leave to become train drivers or other jobs. Churn.
Brilliant as usual. Brings back loads of memories. As far as I’m aware I don’t think the PSNI have direct detective entry, you still have to do your two years probation in uniform. I think you definitely need that grounding first. The police depot teaches you the basics, you don’t actually learn to be a police officer until you hit the public. Sometimes the police would be a fantastic job if you didn’t have to interact with some members of the public!!
Welcome to “The Greatest Show on Earth!”
This blog should be compulsory reading for anyone wishing to join up. Although my background is in colonial policing, the themes raised here are spot on.
I hate that they allow direct entry detectives. What happened to paying your dues? All the reforms do just seem like austerity measures in a thin disguise. The most concerning is using police to police online comments? What is that?
I chose the dip in and out of departments model, almost exclusively in uniform bouncing between Home Office secondments, operational shifts and control room roles up to running 100 staff comms centres. I had opportunity to indulge my penchant for technology which provided a second career at the age of 51, when I’d done my 30. I’m still working at 74 because I tried retiring and didn’t like it. The skills you get are so transferable.
But I’m not sure if I hadn’t a decent final salary pension or I’d had to serve until I was 60 that I’d ever be able to do it.
Mostly loved my time in the job, and have many friends from that time. The cost to family life is high but selfishly worth it.
The experiences I had in the police with the full spectrum of society, from feeling like an animal keeper to crying at a cot death, to watching road collision victims die in front of me as we couldn’t get them out quickly enough, to laughing at inappropriate moments with colleagues, were extremely rewarding and probably only matched by other emergency service or armed forces people. Still laugh now at the discarded tailor’s dummies we used to throw off multi storey car parks to alarm passing probationary constables, or sending them to collect specimens of water at high tide in the Docks.
I wouldn’t have missed it for the world but don’t think I would have survived today’s strictures and attitudes.
That’s an old photo if they’re wearing tunics …
As a copper you can generally rely on other coppers. As a direct-entry superintendent you can generally rely on other direct-entry superintendents.
Is that why their stab vests have two plates in rear? :D
I was ‘hands on’ helping arrest a very drunk, very aggressive, driver a week ago. I’m ex blue light family, unfortunately not ex job. Single crewed traffic officer amazed he got assistance from a mop. Everyone just stands and gets their phones out to video. I amazed I controlled my pathological hatred of drunk drivers!
Healthy Churn is rarely mentioned now by chief constables. Those who advocated it are long gone. Expecting the complex policing environment of 21st century UK to be navigated by short timers was folly. It is akin to the 19 year draftees who were sent into the jungles of Vietnam. When those who survived, gained experience and developed skills it was time for them to return to the States. In the context of policing they leave to become train drivers or other jobs. Churn.