Joining the force
24 September 2006, 12:46 PM
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Parts Unknown (even to me!)
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Joining the force
I'm now in the final year of a degree, so I've been thinking about the next step. I've spent the majority of the summer sat working behind a laptop and I'm not entirely sure if I'd be happy forging a career in that manner. Something a little more varied would be better, but I think I'd cope if the right office job did happen to come up.
I've always considered joining the Police, but I was brought up to put my education first, so joining when 18 wasn't an option (although I'll only be 21 when I come out of uni).
I fit all the basic requirements but I'm thinking that my degree would become more or less meaningless if I did take that route, as it gives me no guarantee of being admitted to the 'high potential development scheme', which would be ideal.
It's early days yet, but I've also looked at the possibility of joining CID after the probationary period - is that possible with the HPD scheme, or is it one or the other?
Any thoughts or opinions would be great.
I've always considered joining the Police, but I was brought up to put my education first, so joining when 18 wasn't an option (although I'll only be 21 when I come out of uni).
I fit all the basic requirements but I'm thinking that my degree would become more or less meaningless if I did take that route, as it gives me no guarantee of being admitted to the 'high potential development scheme', which would be ideal.
It's early days yet, but I've also looked at the possibility of joining CID after the probationary period - is that possible with the HPD scheme, or is it one or the other?
Any thoughts or opinions would be great.
24 September 2006, 01:36 PM
#3
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'd think very long and hard before you made any decision, I joined up and served a year, and absolutely hated it at the end.
I'd got to a stage in my life where I got so fed up with all the **** people do to each other that I, stupidly maybe, decided that I wanted to "make a difference".
I left a cushy, well paid, 9-5 job and joined up. The first part was great, learning about the law, three months in training school, meeting loads of different people, then after passing out I was sent to my first station.
This was good, as it was in a rural area there was a good variety of jobs coming in, and you actually had the time to try and sort some of the crap out.
I then got posted to a large town, which was a lot busier. I was on a good shift, and always offered help and was helped in return. Did 12 weeks there, then went to another shift.
All they were concerned with were writing off jobs as soon as possible as undetected, and then harassing local drunks / junkies that they knew would kick off and nick them. Hardly what I wanted to do.
As the "new boy", I spent most of the school holidays nicking 11 year old shoplifters / vandals / general ****es and then ferrying them about until the parents could be found.
Weekends were spent nicking drunks, wasting a good six hours of a shift doing paperwork only to be told that the victim then decided that he didn't want to press charges.
I was also "bullied", which for a 16st 6' 2" bloke is quite an admission to make. I could do nothing right, and constantly got **** for no reason. Some of the others used to be sleeping in the refs room while I was out on foot at 5 in the morning.
This continued, until I had enough and just walked out. The final straw was being sent to a suspected firearms job, singlecrewed, at night. I had no firearms training, and had my trusty ASP for protection. No jobs worth that.
The shifts were really bad, I never saw anyone at home for more than a few hours at a time and when I did I was too knackered to do anything.
I left and worked in Halfords for a while after that while waiting to get back into surveying, **** job, but a big, big improvement on the Bill!
I know the HPDS is different, and you'll go up the ladder quickly, but for me no job is worth feeling fcuked off all the time and permenantly knackered.
Reponse 1 runs were the only good part of the job TBH
All this is based on my own experience, and may vary a lot from others on here, so I'd try and look at all aspects before taking the plunge.
I'd got to a stage in my life where I got so fed up with all the **** people do to each other that I, stupidly maybe, decided that I wanted to "make a difference".
I left a cushy, well paid, 9-5 job and joined up. The first part was great, learning about the law, three months in training school, meeting loads of different people, then after passing out I was sent to my first station.
This was good, as it was in a rural area there was a good variety of jobs coming in, and you actually had the time to try and sort some of the crap out.
I then got posted to a large town, which was a lot busier. I was on a good shift, and always offered help and was helped in return. Did 12 weeks there, then went to another shift.
All they were concerned with were writing off jobs as soon as possible as undetected, and then harassing local drunks / junkies that they knew would kick off and nick them. Hardly what I wanted to do.
As the "new boy", I spent most of the school holidays nicking 11 year old shoplifters / vandals / general ****es and then ferrying them about until the parents could be found.
Weekends were spent nicking drunks, wasting a good six hours of a shift doing paperwork only to be told that the victim then decided that he didn't want to press charges.
I was also "bullied", which for a 16st 6' 2" bloke is quite an admission to make. I could do nothing right, and constantly got **** for no reason. Some of the others used to be sleeping in the refs room while I was out on foot at 5 in the morning.
This continued, until I had enough and just walked out. The final straw was being sent to a suspected firearms job, singlecrewed, at night. I had no firearms training, and had my trusty ASP for protection. No jobs worth that.
The shifts were really bad, I never saw anyone at home for more than a few hours at a time and when I did I was too knackered to do anything.
I left and worked in Halfords for a while after that while waiting to get back into surveying, **** job, but a big, big improvement on the Bill!
I know the HPDS is different, and you'll go up the ladder quickly, but for me no job is worth feeling fcuked off all the time and permenantly knackered.
Reponse 1 runs were the only good part of the job TBH
All this is based on my own experience, and may vary a lot from others on here, so I'd try and look at all aspects before taking the plunge.
24 September 2006, 02:18 PM
#5
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: middle east
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by AudiLover
join the RAF and then join the SAS
Are you a careers advisor by any chance AL?
Its just im missing the correlation between g-star wanting advice on joining the police and you advising he joins the RAF then the SAS
or are you some MOD sneaky beaky trying to make up for manpower shortages in iraq/afghanistan
?
24 September 2006, 02:37 PM
#6
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Surrey/London borders.
Posts: 8,300
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by G-STAR
I'm now in the final year of a degree, so I've been thinking about the next step. I've spent the majority of the summer sat working behind a laptop and I'm not entirely sure if I'd be happy forging a career in that manner. Something a little more varied would be better, but I think I'd cope if the right office job did happen to come up.
I've always considered joining the Police, but I was brought up to put my education first, so joining when 18 wasn't an option (although I'll only be 21 when I come out of uni).
I fit all the basic requirements but I'm thinking that my degree would become more or less meaningless if I did take that route, as it gives me no guarantee of being admitted to the 'high potential development scheme', which would be ideal.
It's early days yet, but I've also looked at the possibility of joining CID after the probationary period - is that possible with the HPD scheme, or is it one or the other?
Any thoughts or opinions would be great.
I've always considered joining the Police, but I was brought up to put my education first, so joining when 18 wasn't an option (although I'll only be 21 when I come out of uni).
I fit all the basic requirements but I'm thinking that my degree would become more or less meaningless if I did take that route, as it gives me no guarantee of being admitted to the 'high potential development scheme', which would be ideal.
It's early days yet, but I've also looked at the possibility of joining CID after the probationary period - is that possible with the HPD scheme, or is it one or the other?
Any thoughts or opinions would be great.
Some of the people I joined with have since left because they were frankly useless. Some had degrees, some didn't. You can either do/hack it, or you can't. The poster above couldn't. You get lots of crap in your 1st 2 years - longer if you don't "fit".
You can get attachments to CID within your probationary period, but generally near the end as they don't want people working with them that don't know their ***** from their elbows! I'm talking from a Met perspective, but assume they're all run on a similar framework.
24 September 2006, 03:08 PM
#7
Can you ignore someone asking for help, someone afraid of being assaulted, then threaten to nick him when he persists?
Can you tell lies when cornered, after having made a mistake ?
Can you lie to get a conviction?
Can you prioritise so that an assault with a deadly weapon takes a lower priority than speeding?
Can you swear at members of the public, but threaten to nick them on public order offences when they swear back?
Can you harrass motorists, be rude and abusive to them? Then as above?
If you can do all these things, and more, join the force, you'll fit right in
Alcazar
Can you tell lies when cornered, after having made a mistake ?
Can you lie to get a conviction?
Can you prioritise so that an assault with a deadly weapon takes a lower priority than speeding?
Can you swear at members of the public, but threaten to nick them on public order offences when they swear back?
Can you harrass motorists, be rude and abusive to them? Then as above?
If you can do all these things, and more, join the force, you'll fit right in
Alcazar
Trending Topics
24 September 2006, 03:10 PM
#8
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,377
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by pete1977
Are you a careers advisor by any chance AL? Its just im missing the correlation between g-star wanting advice on joining the police and you advising he joins the RAF then the SAS or are you some MOD sneaky beaky trying to make up for manpower shortages in iraq/afghanistan ? Its just that he wants to be in a force, so why not the most respected in the world, ie the S.A.S.
Actually, you should join M.I.5
24 September 2006, 03:44 PM
#9
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Parts Unknown (even to me!)
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Old Farquar
I'd think very long and hard before you made any decision, I joined up and served a year, and absolutely hated it at the end.
I'd got to a stage in my life where I got so fed up with all the **** people do to each other that I, stupidly maybe, decided that I wanted to "make a difference".
I left a cushy, well paid, 9-5 job and joined up. The first part was great, learning about the law, three months in training school, meeting loads of different people, then after passing out I was sent to my first station.
This was good, as it was in a rural area there was a good variety of jobs coming in, and you actually had the time to try and sort some of the crap out.
I then got posted to a large town, which was a lot busier. I was on a good shift, and always offered help and was helped in return. Did 12 weeks there, then went to another shift.
All they were concerned with were writing off jobs as soon as possible as undetected, and then harassing local drunks / junkies that they knew would kick off and nick them. Hardly what I wanted to do.
As the "new boy", I spent most of the school holidays nicking 11 year old shoplifters / vandals / general ****es and then ferrying them about until the parents could be found.
Weekends were spent nicking drunks, wasting a good six hours of a shift doing paperwork only to be told that the victim then decided that he didn't want to press charges.
I was also "bullied", which for a 16st 6' 2" bloke is quite an admission to make. I could do nothing right, and constantly got **** for no reason. Some of the others used to be sleeping in the refs room while I was out on foot at 5 in the morning.
This continued, until I had enough and just walked out. The final straw was being sent to a suspected firearms job, singlecrewed, at night. I had no firearms training, and had my trusty ASP for protection. No jobs worth that.
The shifts were really bad, I never saw anyone at home for more than a few hours at a time and when I did I was too knackered to do anything.
I left and worked in Halfords for a while after that while waiting to get back into surveying, **** job, but a big, big improvement on the Bill!
I know the HPDS is different, and you'll go up the ladder quickly, but for me no job is worth feeling fcuked off all the time and permenantly knackered.
Reponse 1 runs were the only good part of the job TBH
All this is based on my own experience, and may vary a lot from others on here, so I'd try and look at all aspects before taking the plunge.
I'd got to a stage in my life where I got so fed up with all the **** people do to each other that I, stupidly maybe, decided that I wanted to "make a difference".
I left a cushy, well paid, 9-5 job and joined up. The first part was great, learning about the law, three months in training school, meeting loads of different people, then after passing out I was sent to my first station.
This was good, as it was in a rural area there was a good variety of jobs coming in, and you actually had the time to try and sort some of the crap out.
I then got posted to a large town, which was a lot busier. I was on a good shift, and always offered help and was helped in return. Did 12 weeks there, then went to another shift.
All they were concerned with were writing off jobs as soon as possible as undetected, and then harassing local drunks / junkies that they knew would kick off and nick them. Hardly what I wanted to do.
As the "new boy", I spent most of the school holidays nicking 11 year old shoplifters / vandals / general ****es and then ferrying them about until the parents could be found.
Weekends were spent nicking drunks, wasting a good six hours of a shift doing paperwork only to be told that the victim then decided that he didn't want to press charges.
I was also "bullied", which for a 16st 6' 2" bloke is quite an admission to make. I could do nothing right, and constantly got **** for no reason. Some of the others used to be sleeping in the refs room while I was out on foot at 5 in the morning.
This continued, until I had enough and just walked out. The final straw was being sent to a suspected firearms job, singlecrewed, at night. I had no firearms training, and had my trusty ASP for protection. No jobs worth that.
The shifts were really bad, I never saw anyone at home for more than a few hours at a time and when I did I was too knackered to do anything.
I left and worked in Halfords for a while after that while waiting to get back into surveying, **** job, but a big, big improvement on the Bill!
I know the HPDS is different, and you'll go up the ladder quickly, but for me no job is worth feeling fcuked off all the time and permenantly knackered.
Reponse 1 runs were the only good part of the job TBH
All this is based on my own experience, and may vary a lot from others on here, so I'd try and look at all aspects before taking the plunge.
I'm not going to rush into making any sort of decision (hence the early research), but it's good to hear from every perspective possible.
Originally Posted by fatherpierre
It sounds like you're putting great stock in your degree - the police don't.
With or without a degree, I am confident in possessing the qualities required, but as you say, the proof will be in the pudding.
Originally Posted by AudiLover
lol im a plumber
Its just that he wants to be in a force, so why not the most respected in the world, ie the S.A.S.
Actually, you should join M.I.5
Its just that he wants to be in a force, so why not the most respected in the world, ie the S.A.S.
Actually, you should join M.I.5
24 September 2006, 03:54 PM
#10
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Surrey/London borders.
Posts: 8,300
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Having a degree doesn't count at all. It used to be requirement for for HPD but has now been completely removed. I guy I worked with was on it and he hasn't even got a GCSE above a C. He's since left though.....
I have a degree and it wasn't even mentioned as the HPD isn't pushed on you or even slightly 'sold' to recruits. I don't even recall being asked to provide my certificate...............
I have a degree and it wasn't even mentioned as the HPD isn't pushed on you or even slightly 'sold' to recruits. I don't even recall being asked to provide my certificate...............
24 September 2006, 04:06 PM
#11
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by alcazar
Can you ignore someone asking for help, someone afraid of being assaulted, then threaten to nick him when he persists?
Can you tell lies when cornered, after having made a mistake ?
Can you lie to get a conviction?
Can you prioritise so that an assault with a deadly weapon takes a lower priority than speeding?
Can you swear at members of the public, but threaten to nick them on public order offences when they swear back?
Can you harrass motorists, be rude and abusive to them? Then as above?
If you can do all these things, and more, join the force, you'll fit right in
Alcazar
Can you tell lies when cornered, after having made a mistake ?
Can you lie to get a conviction?
Can you prioritise so that an assault with a deadly weapon takes a lower priority than speeding?
Can you swear at members of the public, but threaten to nick them on public order offences when they swear back?
Can you harrass motorists, be rude and abusive to them? Then as above?
If you can do all these things, and more, join the force, you'll fit right in
Alcazar
Can you face 10 drunk males thretening to kill you because you asked them to leave an address?
Can you run towards danger when everyone else is running away?
Can you take criticism and stick from bigoted idiots like Alcazar and still carry on doing your job?
Can you train and struggle but pass courses to make you a better stronger person?
Can you strive for years to achieve something you really want (CID)?
Etc. Etc. Etc.
24 September 2006, 04:19 PM
#12
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Weston Super Mare, Somerset.
Posts: 14,102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have you asked on the police discussion forum - five o or something? Sorry I can't remember the link. Friendly crowd when I wanted some help/advice.
24 September 2006, 05:21 PM
#13
Scooby Senior
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: RIP - Tam the bam & Andy the Jock
Posts: 14,333
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ever thought about becoming a traffic warden instead?...... that way you could REALLY **** loads of people off?..........
Is your degree in stupidity........... if so a career in the police sounds right up your street...
Is your degree in stupidity........... if so a career in the police sounds right up your street...
24 September 2006, 05:55 PM
#14
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: middle east
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by DCI Gene Hunt
Ever thought about becoming a traffic warden instead?...... that way you could REALLY **** loads of people off?..........
Is your degree in stupidity........... if so a career in the police sounds right up your street...
Is your degree in stupidity........... if so a career in the police sounds right up your street...
Pete ,you are a **** but sometimes a funny one
24 September 2006, 06:50 PM
#15
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Surrey/London borders.
Posts: 8,300
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Chris5-0
Nice!!
Can you face 10 drunk males thretening to kill you because you asked them to leave an address?
Can you run towards danger when everyone else is running away?
Can you take criticism and stick from bigoted idiots like Alcazar and still carry on doing your job?
Can you train and struggle but pass courses to make you a better stronger person?
Can you strive for years to achieve something you really want (CID)?
Etc. Etc. Etc.
Can you face 10 drunk males thretening to kill you because you asked them to leave an address?
Can you run towards danger when everyone else is running away?
Can you take criticism and stick from bigoted idiots like Alcazar and still carry on doing your job?
Can you train and struggle but pass courses to make you a better stronger person?
Can you strive for years to achieve something you really want (CID)?
Etc. Etc. Etc.
Stick the ***** on your ignore list, as I have.
Why would you listen to a bin man from a place with the word cu*t in the middle of it?
24 September 2006, 09:57 PM
#19
Chris 5-0, and fatherpierre: a couple of pigs grunting.
Insulting me will NOT change the FACT that the pigs I've had dealings with, AND my friends and family have had dealings with, ARE the ***** , not me.
Sorry guys, snouts back in troughs, back to bullying, enforcing and generally bum-licking HM Governemnt.
Oh sorry,
I forgot............you HAVE to obey orders, don't you?
Alcazar
BTW: Fp, if I WAS a binman, why would that make my opinion any less worthwhile? Are you a snob as well?
Insulting me will NOT change the FACT that the pigs I've had dealings with, AND my friends and family have had dealings with, ARE the ***** , not me.
Sorry guys, snouts back in troughs, back to bullying, enforcing and generally bum-licking HM Governemnt.
Oh sorry,
I forgot............you HAVE to obey orders, don't you? Alcazar
BTW: Fp, if I WAS a binman, why would that make my opinion any less worthwhile? Are you a snob as well?
24 September 2006, 10:13 PM
#23
BANNED
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: House
Posts: 2,941
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A few of my family have served in the Police Force,including my Dad who retired after 33 years as a Chief Inspector...even he didn't have much time for 'modern' coppers!
If I were ever to get burgled,think I'd call Interflora before dialling 999
If I were ever to get burgled,think I'd call Interflora before dialling 999
24 September 2006, 10:16 PM
#25
Originally Posted by Elmer Fudpucker
A few of my family have served in the Police Force,including my Dad who retired after 33 years as a Chief Inspector...even he didn't have much time for 'modern' coppers!
If I were ever to get burgled,think I'd call Interflora before dialling 999
If I were ever to get burgled,think I'd call Interflora before dialling 999
Alcazar
24 September 2006, 10:23 PM
#30
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Muppetising life
Posts: 15,449
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just FYI, when you have someone on ignore it shows a little horizontal line with their name.....you know they have posted, you just don't get to see what 
(unless you click on that little line and then opt to show...which would be strange
)
(unless you click on that little line and then opt to show...which would be strange
)