Joining the police?

[thatstupidcat]

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

The sad but annoying answer to “what is it like” is it depends.

Volunteering can have its benefits. I’m particularly familiar with the Special Constables in London and they do a lot of what actual PC’s do for the cost of minimal expenses and the promises of aiding an application for actual police training, and for direct entry. The Met has had intakes that’s main requirement was experience as a Special, even for people on the management track. I think to help reduce burn out and people not being adequately prepared for the job.

And in the same spirit of saving money, I think the appropriate voluntary work would really help, if only to broaden contacts and get the security vetting done. It’s amazing how handy having clearances in place when it comes to applying for permanent roles is as it takes so long to clear new starters.

Try and speak to someone in the relevant department of your preferred force and ask about volunteering. As always, police-led teams are often run like little kingdoms and each has its own way of doing things. Some will be keen for volunteers (especially ones with decent qualifications / experience) while others won’t want the hassle. At the very least, when it comes to permanent recruitment, teams generally prefer someone they know rather than a rank outsider.

Good luck

 

[it’s not been changed?!]

Without seeing the form I can’t say. It’ll depend what the questions are. But you might have to bite the bullet and confess, if your brother says you have no cautions/convictions and he’s refused vetting on the basis that he lied it may come out later…again without seeing the forms I can’t say if that would be the case

Ok, thank you for your help. He’s not at that stage yet (which I think is the final one?) I didn’t realise he could refuse vetting- I thought they did it automatically? If I knew I could tell him and not get my parents involved, it would be ok, but they will want to be fully involved in it all!

 

[Monkeybum]

Not in the police myself but 2 of my close friends are with very different experiences (based on their determination more than anything)

One applied at 30 in the Midlands about 10 years ago, she's never pushed herself as happy where she is and still working as a a constable. She does some mentoring for new trainees and a few extra courses etc

The other is one of my best friends from school is very determined and moved down to London to pursue a career in the Met after Uni. She's really pushed herself, got onto the high potential scene and is now a superintendent. She's done everything you've spoke about but had to work her arse off to get there and a lot of short term placements to prove her worth

 

[hydeist]

Thank you @thatstupidcat for your views, I was expecting some negative advice and I do appreciate it as I find it keeps me grounded

Intelligence/analytical roles are more where I want to be I think, especially as my degree will be in cyber security... I was considering police officer as a way in. I wonder how different NCA is - civil service but I have worked in DWP and know the red tape

If you are interested in going into intelligence research or analysis, generally that is a civilian staff role and you don't need to be a police officer. Though (in my region) those roles require some prior knowledge of intelligence/the systems involved, so the best route in is through roles in systems/IT/compliance.

Honestly if you want to be working in cyber crime or cyber security type work, an officer role is not necessarily going to offer you the kind of technical challenge that you might be looking for, as opposed to a civilian staff role in intelligence or IT.

 

[Boutros-Boutros Ghali]

You move up through the salary brackets yearly, not including any pay rises (don’t hold out hope of them being much). You’ll also get overtime but that’s not guaranteed or the same every month. You do have pension contributions taken out of your salary too so remember to take that into account when doing any calculations!

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

Thank you. I’ve been fraught all day thinking about it.

If for arguments sake, I don’t confess to the caution, and he fails the vetting, can they contest it? Sorry for so many questions! And would it be obvious that it’s because someone wasn’t honest?

No you can't contest it unfortunately but no it wouldn't be obvious that someone hadn't been honest. They ask lots of other questions relating to driving fines/offences, in depth financal evaluation etc so it could be literally any part that causes the failure.

 

[taffygirl77]

It’s not like it was. I joined when I was 20 many years ago. I’ve since left due to childcare and new business. My partner is still in though. 23 years. He does a specialised role
Money can be good or bad, depending on what you do (overtime)
The justice system is shit,
My first arrest was the younger sister of a girl I walked to school with

I’ve had numerous injuries from assault

I worked vice and child protection

The job was different every day. Would I go back, no, the pension is rubbish now, but may change with some new rulings

Would I want my kids to join, no I wouldn’t

 

[Debbie Darko]

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.

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

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

Ok I guess that’s something for me to think about. Though he’s as straight as a die, so there’s no dirt on him.
They have a friend of a friend who is an ex police officer, so would he be able to gauge why if he wasn’t successful in his application?

No, the friend wouldn't have access to any of the vetting outcome info. The whole process is confidential.

 

[Icbaaaa]

You’ll be expected to work shift patterns and also if you get a call towards the end of your shift you may be expected to stay on until the end of the job, both because they need the staff and also because your training and you’ll want/need the experience
It’s a variety of shifts days/nights/weekends do if you have the support at home then it shouldn’t be too bad but if you have a run of night shifts would you be ok not seeing the kids for long as you’d need sleep before the next shift...is that what you mean?

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!

 

[CrackingOwlSanctuary]

As someone who spent a decade working adjacent to the BTP and worked with one of their former officers I would suggest, depending on the region and your goals, it may not be the force for you. More than a few times I was stitched up by BTP officers who wanted to avoid some paper work only for things to escalate down the line (literally) but there seemed to be a culture of 'once we get them off our station they aren't our problem, regardless of what happens'. I have reported fare dodgers, sexual harassment, serious assualt and racial abuse to BTP officers during my career, face to face within yards of the perpetrators and had no action taken.

A colleague of mine even once requested BTP assistance to deal with an abusive fare dodger prior to departing a major UK railway station: the attending officer bought the fare dodger's ticket to get rid of him!

The former officer I know said he quit after deciding he was fed up with the amount of chancers getting a pass. He decided to spend the week not giving anyone who was acting anti socially, fare dodging, drug taking etc at his station a pass, and at the end of the week he was dragged in by his sergeant and berated for inflating the crime figures.

Not to put you off but give you a little more insight into the BTP and why you may prefer to choose a different force.

 

[it’s not been changed?!]

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.


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.

He doesn’t know about it. Nobody knows about it.

 

[alwayslurkin]

Thank you!

I'm not a graduate but I have already gained some credits towards a Bachelor's degree. Can I transfer these credits, do you think?

 

[BettyCrockerr]

I thought they didn’t disclose why you failed to get into the police?

I know a few people who didn’t get in and were told why - although all of those were medical or health related

 

[Boutros-Boutros Ghali]

Without seeing the form I can’t say. It’ll depend what the questions are. But you might have to bite the bullet and confess, if your brother says you have no cautions/convictions and he’s refused vetting on the basis that he lied it may come out later…again without seeing the forms I can’t say if that would be the case

 

[it’s not been changed?!]

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.

Thank you. I’ve been fraught all day thinking about it.

If for arguments sake, I don’t confess to the caution, and he fails the vetting, can they contest it? Sorry for so many questions! And would it be obvious that it’s because someone wasn’t honest?

 

[it’s not been changed?!]

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

Ahh. I’ve seen the nppv1 form as where I work, people had to fill them in about their selves before working in a police station.
My issue is, I don’t want to have to tell my parents about my caution (I know that’s selfish and it was a long time ago) does my brother fill out my vetting info on my behalf? Or do I do it myself?

 

[Icbaaaa]

How difficult is it going through the training and maintaining family home life? (please be brutally honest)
I'm a mum and pregnant with my second baby, always what I've wanted to do as a career and already have my foot in the door so I know exactly what the job entails. I always imagined I would have applied before kids but it didn't work out that way but still feel so determined to try it

 

[Rosie878]

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

 

[alwayslurkin]

Yeah I'll contact recruitment in my force and discuss it. I just know if I never tried at it then look back on my life, I'll majorly regret it. I'm coming up for 30 soon so feel like nows the time if I wanted to go for it! Plus rewarding - but also will be a straining and a lot of hard work! Thanks so much for your help!

I'm the same! If I don't do it now, I never will.

My concern is being able to afford rent on my own on the starting salary