2000 sport

iTrader: (1)

just finishing up 4yrs at uni, and it has been enough to make me realise that i dont want a career in what i am currently doing...

the idea of joining the police does appeal tho`.. i am looking for something quite "hands on" that isn`t the same everyday and i can get some satisfaction out of...

anyone a copper on here ?? any advice ??

Jerome

This was asked recently here

Poor Guy

its not a force anymore. its a service. Police Service.

SiPie

It'll take years to become a Jedi ... but hat's off to you for trying

rr_ww

I was out of work recently for 6 weeks or so. The Met came up, during conversations.


Something my old man said, sticks in my mind. "You shouldnt be able to join the Police as your first job, you should get some 'life' experience first"

Now, I appreciate you're going to find that comment patronising, but basically tough. Ive met and had a laugh with a few ex-coppers over the years. And the thing that marks them out was they all joined when in their late 20's. They are more rounded, than some 18 year old probie, out to become a little hitler. How many times do you hear people say the younger copper wanted to do me for the offence but the older one wasnt interested?

4 Years at uni so 22 ish. Get a job, where you deal with people, some kind of manager maybe dealing with complaints. Then in 2-3 years apply. It takes around 18 months to join. And you still need to be quite fit.

Questions I think you should ask yourself are :

How streetwise are you? Would you walk into a dark alley in your local estate? Or would you be too scared? Would you know what to expect in the more interesting parts of society? Do you know street terms for things (drugs etc) Have you ever been threatened by a weapon? Ever had serious verbal abuse from someone you dont know?

Its a great career and I may still do it in the future. As the adverts say

Could you?

Danbo

I joined when I was 20, but then I had worked in various jobs since I was 17. Experience of other jobs and life does help an awful lot, but then again it depends on what sort of person you are.

Good luck.

Reib

I'm not in the Police Force, but my friend is. I was interested in it (and still kinda am), only thing he warned was be prepared for a lot of paperwork

He loves the other side of it though (the non-paperwork side)

yoza

Another one !

What is this, a secret recrutement site.


'That recrutement doesnt look wright.'

2000 sport

iTrader: (1)

thanks for the replies..

rr ww ~ no little hitler here mate.. i have lived in nottingham and london (been to plenty of dodgy areas), spent 4 years at uni, been a manager, and worked with the public since leaving school.. when i read through that, felt positive about all the points you raised.. will still be carrying on with my current employer while i go through the application process.. cheers for the thoughts..

Danbo

And whoever said coppers have it in for Scooby owners??? Most of us seem to own them!!

fatherpierre

I start in 10 weeks.

Think long and hard about it and give yourself reasons why you want to join, because you'll need to demonstrate these reasons if you get an interview.

I'm from a very working class background and have friends/family who don't approve - but that's their problem.

Good luck

2000 sport

iTrader: (1)

cheers mate..

rr_ww

Interesting point. Whose got the problem?

Felix.

Been in 4 years - luv it

every day is different, loads of opportunities to move into various departments, good team work and banter on the shift, you are your own boss for 95% of the time, loads of time off, very exciting and loads of adrenalin rushes.

fatherpierre

My dad, brother, a few uncles and some friends.

Perfectly natural to get this reaction as I've found out from speaking to fellow joiners on my course.

It's all down to your perception of the police, I guess.

IanW

Yup, you soon learn who your true friends are! I have had great support from a few people who I thought would have wanted to distance themselves from anyone in the Police.

If you want to do it, then go for it!

lmsbman

Been in the job 15 years. Joined at 21 having worked at other jobs for 3 years. Others are right about getting experience outside first - even if its just to be able to compete with your fellow trainees war stories!!!

At the end of the day the two most important attributes you need are (1) COMMON SENSE & (2) THE ABILITY TO BULL****

Why?
Well hopefully number one is self explanatory. Being a good copper is not something you can learn out of a text book. You will have to deal with all sorts of issues that you have never had any training in. People phone the Police when they don't know who to call. You will need to be a lawyer, social worker, marriage guidance counsellor,plumber, electrician, mechanic, umpire, teacher............the list is endless.

Number two will assist you with number one. You will have to be able to make quick decisions based on limited facts. You can't possibly know everything, so long as you know something about most things. Then the ability to bull**** comes in. You can make yourself sound like the worlds leading expert on most things to the public and 99% of the time you will get away with it. You can the come back to the station and check if what you have said/done is correct.

So if you have got the first (which you either have or you haven't) and you are clever enough to learn the second you will do fine.