Joining the police?

[thatstupidcat]

Does anyone here work for the police?

For years, I have wanted to work in law enforcement. The thing is I never had the confidence to persue it and lived in an area where the police were just seen as "the pigs"

For the past two years, I've hated my job in tech and I can't stop thinking about policing.

My long term goal would be to work on either the drugs or firearms squad, or in cyber crime. How could I do this?

I know of the NCA and GCHQ, but competition is fierce and I'm a student at OU. As I have to study part-time it will take me six years to graduate.

I considered just going in as a police officer and working my way up?

Any advice would be appreciated and I'm open to all opinions

I hope some of these tips are helpful, I don’t mean to put you off but if you are having a tough time in your civilian job, you need to consider a little of the grim reality of policing before diving in.

1. Don’t police in the same area you live - ideally travel to the next city or county. It can be super awkward bumping into all your local elements whilst out shopping or at the school gates. You also don’t want the extra hassle being inflicted on your partner / children too.

2. Take care of your mental health. You’re going to have to deal with a lot of the low level drudge work unless you can get direct entry. That means domestic violence (often with the same couples), drunks and the homeless and the like. Be prepared to have to grow a thick hide and keep your cool when you give evidence in court. If you last past your probationary period and the few years after, you will get hella cynical. Direct entry involves more paperwork and management of police officers who resent you leapfrogging ahead of them and knowing far less practical policing stuff.

3. Also, the politics back at your station are fierce. Competition for promotion and transfers can be nasty because there is a real bottleneck at each stage. A lot of force’s dedicated HR have gone civilian which means a lot don’t actually understand that your warrant card doesn’t just mean you can arrest people, but also HR have to go through a different set of procedures for things civilian staff take for granted.

4. Also, there are a lot of pissed off sergeants who cap out at that level who take out their frustrations on their underlings so brace yourself for some bullying or “bantz”.

5. Firearms traditionally let military types leapfrog recruitment in some forces, so depending on where you are going competition can be extra aggressive and the training isn’t a one-off at the gun range and an online assessment, but a constant thing.

6. Drugs or anything plain clothes is very long hours and pre covid / terror, lots of unavoidable overtime which can have a very nasty effect on family life.

7. Cyber crime in a lot of forces is understaffed and still in its infancy, with even bigger forces being quick to just gather evidence before transferring it to another institution. Depending on the “cyber crime”, constantly scrolling through pictures and videos can be extremely upsetting.

Source: Family with approximately 8 currently serving / retired police of different ranks across the UK.

 

[Boutros-Boutros Ghali]

I work in law enforcement I think the majority has been said above. You don’t need a degree, you’ll be expected to start at the bottom and get work up. You’ll be on probation for the first 2 years. As a uniformed Police Officer, dealing with everything that entails. So be prepared for that, the long hours, the shifts, the getting your leave cancelled at the last minute because something needs policing (and not necessarily in your area) and generally dealing with people who think you’re something they’ve just wiped off the sole of your shoe....once you get past that then you can start to look at areas you’d like to specialise in. Although as has been said competition is fierce but don’t let that put you off. To be a Detective you have to pass an exam and then complete a portfolio of work. Same goes for promotion to DS...you also have to sit an exam, then a board and even then you’re only recommended for a role, if there aren’t any then you’ll have to wait but there’s only a 2 year window to get a job otherwise it’s back to the start. Its very rewarding though, but equally you do have to have quite a thick skin and also be prepared to see/deal with stuff you can only imagine eg cyber crime deals a lot with the dark web and if you’ve never been on there it may come as a shock.....

NCA direct recruit but it’s quite a rigorous application process....they also have a lot of vacancies (unsurprisingly) on the the teams looking at child sexual abuse so people often get posted there first....not pleasant for want of a better word

There’s also HMRC and Immigration Enforcement who have prosecution sections.
BTP are nationwide but again a lot of your first couple of years will be spent dealing with the aftermath of people who have taken their life by jumping in front of a train

I’m making it sound bad but I really enjoy my job, it’s very rewarding. You don’t get paid a lot and as all public sector pay rises are pretty much a thing of the past again but your starting salary will be ok

Private industry do have cyber crime and other types of investigators and they will pay more but your chances there are slim. Competition is high and they tend to want people with a degree as well as law enforcement experience

You need to have a level of fitness and depending on some specialisms you may need more/have medical etc (eg firearms)
Also I assume you don’t have a criminal record? Or any close family with any convictions (don’t answer me I don’t need to know but something to think about) you are vetted, they look into your past, your family, your finances. It’s quite intrusive and depending on some of the work they do enhanced checks and you’ll have to detail literally everything about your life and then they’ll decide if you can have the appropriate clearance so if they refuse you may not get the job you want.

Have you thought about being a special Constable? You get the same exposure and powers as a regular officer and would look good on future applications as well as give you an idea of what to expect? There are always vacancies for them
Have you thought about being a special Constable? You get the same exposure and powers as a regular officer and would look good on future applications as well as give you an idea of what to expect? There are always vacancies for them

 

[Captainmouse]

The issue with vetting is to check the applicants honesty amongst anything else. They know the answers to the questions before they ask them. I have nppv3 clearance

 

[Salliescrunchie]

Does anyone here work for the police?

For years, I have wanted to work in law enforcement. The thing is I never had the confidence to persue it and lived in an area where the police were just seen as "the pigs"

For the past two years, I've hated my job in tech and I can't stop thinking about policing.

My long term goal would be to work on either the drugs or firearms squad, or in cyber crime. How could I do this?

I know of the NCA and GCHQ, but competition is fierce and I'm a student at OU. As I have to study part-time it will take me six years to graduate.

I considered just going in as a police officer and working my way up?

Any advice would be appreciated and I'm open to all opinions

Working on units that deal with drugs, firearms or cybercrime are specialist units and you would not be entering the police as a probationer dealing with that. Even as a direct entry TDC. You would be doing borough policing.

For example in the Met. ‘Firearms squad’ doesn’t exist, do you mean as an actual AFO or in a unit that deals with firearms such as Trident? AFO are PCs and although specialist crime do have PCI roles most roles in specialist crime will be for substantive detectives, that includes economic crime. Due to most DCs being pretty miserable on borough, it’s very competitive when applications come out for any specialist unit.

It is nice to have aspirations. However realistically, you won’t be going to a specialist unit for a few years. My advice would be to go in the regular route. Do your time in uniform and get the rounded experience needed for decent policing.

however if you only want to work with computers and don’t fancy standing 8 hours in the rain on a crime scene or strip searching a prossie in custody then maybe look at working in the private sector.

 

[thatstupidcat]

 

[LennyBriscoe]

My friend joined the Police a few years ago and it wasn’t what she imagined, she says it’s more like being a Social Worker. It’s not totally unbearable and she has no plans to leave but she too had wanted to do it for a while and had an idea in her head of what it was going to be like - and that was having previously worked in public prosecution.

I wish I had done it when I was younger.

 

[JoeBloggs]

I have a friend in the armed department, I’ve always toyed with the idea and his advice is never police where you live. Never a good idea to have to arrest a neighbour or old school friend and be careful of taking on too much overtime. The money is good but he was warned that most people end up divorce within a year if they take on too much. Nearly a year later his wife left him and he lost his house and is now in police accommodation.

 

[alwayslurkin]

Thank you so much @thatstupidcat ! I really appreciate your time answering my questions

 

[Captainmouse]

This is rubbish. I have been vetted at a much higher level. No one can ask for family details. What utter nonsense!

You're wrong different sectors focus on different aspects, police do ask about family, friends, boyfriends/girlfriends. Financial sector not so much, but do delve deeply into your financial history. Having clearance, for police, cabinet office and Bank of England, I can attest to this.

 

[alwayslurkin]

For specialist technical roles, sometimes direct entry (which means coming in at detective rank or higher like inspector) roles exist. There are people at higher bandings with the uniform who have never worked the beat or safer neighbourhood’s teams (or if they have, only for their probation), but instead lead teams on forensic accounting or intelligence analysis etc.

Approach the forces that look good to you and enquire about upcoming recruitment drives / relevant departments to get your name in the pot because good networking skills do help.

I can’t speak to the NCA’s procedures, but I imagine that like a lot of public sector bodies, faced with similar if less physically yucky challenges.

Okay, thanks for the advice

I'm also considering voluntary work while I have the time before committing entirely. Do you think they are exposed the same way paid police officers are? I know the website says in some roles you are, but I don't know what it is actually like

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

Hi. I’m hoping someone notices this comment on this thread!

My younger half brother is in the process of applying to get into the police and i hadn’t realised that his family members are vetted. I have never lived with him, there’s more than a 10 year ago gap between us (which is neither here nor there). About 13 years ago me and a friend got a caution for shoplifting (I know, embarrassing) and I’ve never told anyone. I’m now panicking this will come up and deter him from getting into the police. Does anyone know what kind of checks they do for immediate family? Do you get contacted individually to be vetted?
Thank you.

The forms only ask for the names, DOB and addresses of your immediate family (including step relations), rather than specific questions about them.

There is a separate question that asks if you associate with anyone with a criminal record or known criminal activity, however I doubt very much that your shoplifting caution would be of any concern given it was so long ago.

If he fails the vetting process he won't be told why.
Try not to worry though, I doubt there will be an issue.

 

[Captainmouse]

They need to know if you are open to bribery or coercion.

 

[Losa53]

I'm starting my police career next month!
I'm so excited but very nervous about the horror stories.
I didnt need any GCSE but had to pass alot off zoom tests and interviews.
I wish I applied years ago but my kids were little and the shifts wouldn't work as I'm a single mum.

Good luck

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

Thank you for such a thorough response!

I've applied for an NCA role so we'll see what happens there. Not gotten my hopes up especially as I've only applied, so just leaving it be and hoping for the best. Took me like 2 hours to apply as I wanted my responses to the questions on the application to be as good as I could make it.

With the police though I looked on Reddit and people don't really rate the degree... I'm currently studying Cyber Security so would rather graduate with that and see my options at the end.

I'll look into HMRC and Immigration though, thank you! And I did consider BTP, too.

With the degree you are studying for you could consider applying for a police staff role rather than a police officer. The best advice I can give you would be to volunteer with the police if you are able to fit that in with your current commitments. I think the minimum hours are four a week (sixteen per month). This not only makes you a known face but will give you an edge over external candidates when you apply for a permanent role because you will have experience to talk about in the interview.

 

[alwayslurkin]

I work in law enforcement I think the majority has been said above. You don’t need a degree, you’ll be expected to start at the bottom and get work up. You’ll be on probation for the first 2 years. As a uniformed Police Officer, dealing with everything that entails. So be prepared for that, the long hours, the shifts, the getting your leave cancelled at the last minute because something needs policing (and not necessarily in your area) and generally dealing with people who think you’re something they’ve just wiped off the sole of your shoe....once you get past that then you can start to look at areas you’d like to specialise in. Although as has been said competition is fierce but don’t let that put you off. To be a Detective you have to pass an exam and then complete a portfolio of work. Same goes for promotion to DS...you also have to sit an exam, then a board and even then you’re only recommended for a role, if there aren’t any then you’ll have to wait but there’s only a 2 year window to get a job otherwise it’s back to the start. Its very rewarding though, but equally you do have to have quite a thick skin and also be prepared to see/deal with stuff you can only imagine eg cyber crime deals a lot with the dark web and if you’ve never been on there it may come as a shock.....

NCA direct recruit but it’s quite a rigorous application process....they also have a lot of vacancies (unsurprisingly) on the the teams looking at child sexual abuse so people often get posted there first....not pleasant for want of a better word

There’s also HMRC and Immigration Enforcement who have prosecution sections.
BTP are nationwide but again a lot of your first couple of years will be spent dealing with the aftermath of people who have taken their life by jumping in front of a train

I’m making it sound bad but I really enjoy my job, it’s very rewarding. You don’t get paid a lot and as all public sector pay rises are pretty much a thing of the past again but your starting salary will be ok

Private industry do have cyber crime and other types of investigators and they will pay more but your chances there are slim. Competition is high and they tend to want people with a degree as well as law enforcement experience

You need to have a level of fitness and depending on some specialisms you may need more/have medical etc (eg firearms)
Also I assume you don’t have a criminal record? Or any close family with any convictions (don’t answer me I don’t need to know but something to think about) you are vetted, they look into your past, your family, your finances. It’s quite intrusive and depending on some of the work they do enhanced checks and you’ll have to detail literally everything about your life and then they’ll decide if you can have the appropriate clearance so if they refuse you may not get the job you want.

Have you thought about being a special Constable? You get the same exposure and powers as a regular officer and would look good on future applications as well as give you an idea of what to expect? There are always vacancies for them
Have you thought about being a special Constable? You get the same exposure and powers as a regular officer and would look good on future applications as well as give you an idea of what to expect? There are always vacancies for them

Thank you for such a thorough response!

I've applied for an NCA role so we'll see what happens there. Not gotten my hopes up especially as I've only applied, so just leaving it be and hoping for the best. Took me like 2 hours to apply as I wanted my responses to the questions on the application to be as good as I could make it.

With the police though I looked on Reddit and people don't really rate the degree... I'm currently studying Cyber Security so would rather graduate with that and see my options at the end.

I'll look into HMRC and Immigration though, thank you! And I did consider BTP, too.

 

[alwayslurkin]

With the degree you are studying for you could consider applying for a police staff role rather than a police officer. The best advice I can give you would be to volunteer with the police if you are able to fit that in with your current commitments. I think the minimum hours are four a week (sixteen per month). This not only makes you a known face but will give you an edge over external candidates when you apply for a permanent role because you will have experience to talk about in the interview.

Ah yes I'm looking into this! Recruitment isn't open for that yet in my area but I'm on the alerts

 

[cosmo girl]

is there an age limit to be accepted for training in the police?

My friends husband started training when he was 40.

 

[at-the-disco]

i used to work as a member of police staff and i dealt with some recruitment calls, so i can offer a little bit of insight!
i believe you can join the police as either a Degree holder or a non-degree holder and complete an apprenticeship alongside your role. my advice would be to just apply to whichever program you qualify for and then you will have about a 6 month wait before you actually start.

if you have no experience you'll have to start as just a standard police officer role and will be on rotational placement in a few different departments including response, patrolling and in the offices/doing paperwork i believe. then you can choose which role you'd prefer to go into after your placements. then you just work your way up from there however it may take a couple of years to get to where you want to be! the hours are long and you obviously have to be very committed to the role. it sounds like a very stressful yet rewarding role to be a police officer

good luck with whatever you decide to do!

 

[Boutros-Boutros Ghali]

Thank you! Yeah I know the shifts can be grueling and about being held on at end of shift - this happens to me currently. I'm not sure how it is for other forces but mine is you need to stay at police accommodation for 11/12 weeks and only home at weekends (with a lottttttt of training in this time) so was mainly this side of things to see how that is, I've heard from colleagues who have progressed on via officer route it's very strict with your days scheduled out for you and not a lot of "down" time so I feel this I could struggle with but not sure!

Certainly while you’re training there won’t be much scope to get shifts you want/need as it’s a structured training programme. And there’s usually residential elements, it’s definitely harder having to think about the kids but it’s no means impossible. Is there someone in recruitment or training you could maybe speak to and ask for their honest opinion as it does differ between forces

 

[Salliescrunchie]

Hiya I'm a single mum to 3.
Im going into my 2nd week of training. They are super supportive but again you will be expected to work early lates and nights.
You can apply for flexible working hours but you'll need a good enough reason why and i don't think because your a single mum would be a reason.
Im quite lucky as my kids ain't little no more.
Im loving every minute off the training. If you got support from your family then go for it, you wont regret it

You can have a flexi working pattern because of childcare and being a single parent. It’s them who have to have a business case to deny your pattern request, not all roles roles are early mids and lates. There are compressed hours and job shares as well. The job has moved on leaps and bounds in regards to accommodating flexible working. You also can’t be forced to work overtime unless it’s force immobilisation.

Hi. I’m hoping someone notices this comment on this thread!

My younger half brother is in the process of applying to get into the police and i hadn’t realised that his family members are vetted. I have never lived with him, there’s more than a 10 year ago gap between us (which is neither here nor there). About 13 years ago me and a friend got a caution for shoplifting (I know, embarrassing) and I’ve never told anyone. I’m now panicking this will come up and deter him from getting into the police. Does anyone know what kind of checks they do for immediate family? Do you get contacted individually to be vetted?
Thank you.

He should really declare your caution, it shouldnt cause an issue, however him knowing about it and not declaring it could. If he doesn’t know, then maybe it won’t. It’s only a shoplifting after all.