I seem to have been on duty for almost every Remembrance Sunday in my career in one way or another. I've stood alongside veterans at the local memorial, stood outside the nick in line with my shift and now this is the second year I've had a sidearm on me as I have stood silent.
I haven't served in the forces but a lot of my colleagues have and I know what it means to them. I know of people who have lost a loved one in Afghanistan and I've seen what this day means to the family left behind.
I don't pretend to be a soldier on the front line, my experiences of crazed individuals is insignificant when compared to the every day life of a squaddie in Helmand. Yet I feel for them. I know the sacrifice they are willing to make and in some ways it's the same for the lads on my shift, we put ours lives on the line for others less able for better or worse.
Lest we forget.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Oh dear!!
Well I appear to have let things slip round here... last post was in September. Action plans all round for not maintaining my site.... tut tut!
Work wise it would appear we have entered that lull between the end of summer and the Christmas period. The mentally ill and depressed haven't even thought about getting their pills and shotguns together. I assume all the shoplifters are waiting to see what Christmas loot can be stuffed down their trousers as well.
Me, well, I'll just sit back and see what super dangerous sort of jobs I'll go to. Not that many or any of the recent jobs I've attended has been anything other than trivial nonsense.
I attended custody for a trivial arrest. After processing the prisoner I was waiting in line to speak to a Sergeant and I turned to a response colleague next to me and I had to say "I don't miss this shit, not one bit". I know it was a cruel thing to say to someone trapped on response but it's true.
Work wise it would appear we have entered that lull between the end of summer and the Christmas period. The mentally ill and depressed haven't even thought about getting their pills and shotguns together. I assume all the shoplifters are waiting to see what Christmas loot can be stuffed down their trousers as well.
Me, well, I'll just sit back and see what super dangerous sort of jobs I'll go to. Not that many or any of the recent jobs I've attended has been anything other than trivial nonsense.
I attended custody for a trivial arrest. After processing the prisoner I was waiting in line to speak to a Sergeant and I turned to a response colleague next to me and I had to say "I don't miss this shit, not one bit". I know it was a cruel thing to say to someone trapped on response but it's true.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Why I TRY NOT to call the police... (most of the time)
Coppers can be the worst people to call the police. I think the main problem is that we have expectations of the coppers turning up and when they decide to do something else we start getting 'involved'.
I remember going to what should have been a BTP job where a MET PC called in saying a kid had got on without a ticket. Minor, minor stuff but we went along and got the kid off the train and spoke to the officer.
"So are you going to nick him for fare evasion or perhaps fraud?"
"Whoa, hold on there. I'm not sure it really needs that sort of reaction from us. We'll get his details and report him. Not sure I can really justify sitting in custody for an hour sorting it out"
"Well I would have nicked him, he's committing an offence"
"How long have you been in the MET mate?"
"Oh, I've been on borough for two weeks now"
"Ah, that makes sense"
It was a little while back where I called the police, in fact my own force, to report something. A young scally had walked into the shop I was in and started talking to the shopkeeper about how his car outside had cloned plates and that he had nicked them. I didn't know which car he was referring to but I had a good idea where it would be parked bearing in mind where the shop was.
I slipped out the shop and called it in. Giving as much details as I could to the call taker and she thanked me and said a unit would have a look. Small, minor job I admit but I walked away thinking I had helped and just perhaps it might get an uninsured car off the streets.
A couple of days later I was back at work and had a look at the log. All the details had been passed and I read through it only to find one single comment from the duty Sergeant:
"WHAT DOES THE OFFICER EXPECT US TO DO ABOUT IT?"
Brilliant. Perfect. If the line manager can't work out how to send a car and have look round for a shitty car then god help us. I promised myself there and then that if the incident was not one of life and death then frankly I won't waste my time. No unit was sent, and it was closed off. I skimmed through the personel records to see that the Sergeant had served several years less than me and it started to make sense.
No wonder the public have no confidence in us... and they don't even get to see what I see. Hopeless.
I remember going to what should have been a BTP job where a MET PC called in saying a kid had got on without a ticket. Minor, minor stuff but we went along and got the kid off the train and spoke to the officer.
"So are you going to nick him for fare evasion or perhaps fraud?"
"Whoa, hold on there. I'm not sure it really needs that sort of reaction from us. We'll get his details and report him. Not sure I can really justify sitting in custody for an hour sorting it out"
"Well I would have nicked him, he's committing an offence"
"How long have you been in the MET mate?"
"Oh, I've been on borough for two weeks now"
"Ah, that makes sense"
It was a little while back where I called the police, in fact my own force, to report something. A young scally had walked into the shop I was in and started talking to the shopkeeper about how his car outside had cloned plates and that he had nicked them. I didn't know which car he was referring to but I had a good idea where it would be parked bearing in mind where the shop was.
I slipped out the shop and called it in. Giving as much details as I could to the call taker and she thanked me and said a unit would have a look. Small, minor job I admit but I walked away thinking I had helped and just perhaps it might get an uninsured car off the streets.
A couple of days later I was back at work and had a look at the log. All the details had been passed and I read through it only to find one single comment from the duty Sergeant:
"WHAT DOES THE OFFICER EXPECT US TO DO ABOUT IT?"
Brilliant. Perfect. If the line manager can't work out how to send a car and have look round for a shitty car then god help us. I promised myself there and then that if the incident was not one of life and death then frankly I won't waste my time. No unit was sent, and it was closed off. I skimmed through the personel records to see that the Sergeant had served several years less than me and it started to make sense.
No wonder the public have no confidence in us... and they don't even get to see what I see. Hopeless.
Monday, September 07, 2009
We need leaders, not wimps...
In the army the promotion system goes like this:
In broad terms soldiers to be promoted must be qualified (education, training courses, and experience), recommended (by regular confidential reports completed by his employing officer and superiors) and selected (by promotion boards held at his MCM Div).
In the police it's more simple but more 'erratic':
A Constable would put in for the Sergeants exam (same process for PS to Inspector) and upon passing it would be put forward to a promotion board). After successfully completing these two they can apply for Sergeant postings within the force and be interviewed accordingly in respect of whatever skill set is relevant.
Note that there is a distinct lack of 'experience' being a major factor and that, apart from getting a bit of paper signed up for the exam, no real acknowledgement by an senior officers. It's a bug bear I have posted about previously but I come across it time and time again. When will the senior officers ever realise that what Bobbie need least is a 'manager'?
I don't need to be managed, I have more in common with a regular army squaddie than a civvie worker so what I really don't need is a paperpushing know-it-all telling me what I should be doing - you certainly don't gain a shifts respect by teaching them to suck eggs all day.
The promotion system SHOULD be based around an officers ability to lead a group WITHOUT any form of rank getting in the way. A leader should have a natural ability to have his co-workers listen to him with him rubbing a set of stripes in their face to make them understand that they SHOULD or MUST do as is told.
The number of wimpering, flappy, limp wristed sergeants I have come across have been far more than the good ones.
The number of Constables that would make excellent Sergeants are many but either the exam or the added stress of the entire process is beyond their needs and it simply isn't worthwhile in their circumstances.
Some of the best supervision I have ever had was by Acting Sergeants and their sheer drive and ability to get stuck in was, in my opinion, a better reflection of leadership than someone who could quote obscure offence off the top their head. It reminded me of a potential complaint coming from a prisoner I was booking in...
Offender: I want to make a complaint.
Me: What about?
Offender: You, you're a arsehole for decking me.
Me: OK, you really, really want to make a complaint?
Offender: Yeah you dick... I'll get you done.
Me: You'll have to speak to my Sergeant, are you sure?
Offender: Yeah, you'll be fucked.
Me: Sarge, he wants to make a complaint (I turn to the Sergeant holding the lads arm and who helped me tackle him to the ground in the first instance).
Offender: Eh?
Acting Sergeant: You deserved everything you got you cock, so shut it.
Offender: Oh, shit, oh well, you stick up for your own don't you.
Me: Your life is getting shitter by the minute isn't it? Shall I lead you to you cell Sir?
My respect of that Sergeant brimmed at that moment and I knew he would back me up whatever. It's when a Sergeant starts taking steps back away from you when people question you actions that winds me up and I would say that is what 75% of them would do under the same circumstances. It's a shame the good ones are also the bright ones and move on so quickly.
In broad terms soldiers to be promoted must be qualified (education, training courses, and experience), recommended (by regular confidential reports completed by his employing officer and superiors) and selected (by promotion boards held at his MCM Div).
In the police it's more simple but more 'erratic':
A Constable would put in for the Sergeants exam (same process for PS to Inspector) and upon passing it would be put forward to a promotion board). After successfully completing these two they can apply for Sergeant postings within the force and be interviewed accordingly in respect of whatever skill set is relevant.
Note that there is a distinct lack of 'experience' being a major factor and that, apart from getting a bit of paper signed up for the exam, no real acknowledgement by an senior officers. It's a bug bear I have posted about previously but I come across it time and time again. When will the senior officers ever realise that what Bobbie need least is a 'manager'?
I don't need to be managed, I have more in common with a regular army squaddie than a civvie worker so what I really don't need is a paperpushing know-it-all telling me what I should be doing - you certainly don't gain a shifts respect by teaching them to suck eggs all day.
The promotion system SHOULD be based around an officers ability to lead a group WITHOUT any form of rank getting in the way. A leader should have a natural ability to have his co-workers listen to him with him rubbing a set of stripes in their face to make them understand that they SHOULD or MUST do as is told.
The number of wimpering, flappy, limp wristed sergeants I have come across have been far more than the good ones.
The number of Constables that would make excellent Sergeants are many but either the exam or the added stress of the entire process is beyond their needs and it simply isn't worthwhile in their circumstances.
Some of the best supervision I have ever had was by Acting Sergeants and their sheer drive and ability to get stuck in was, in my opinion, a better reflection of leadership than someone who could quote obscure offence off the top their head. It reminded me of a potential complaint coming from a prisoner I was booking in...
Offender: I want to make a complaint.
Me: What about?
Offender: You, you're a arsehole for decking me.
Me: OK, you really, really want to make a complaint?
Offender: Yeah you dick... I'll get you done.
Me: You'll have to speak to my Sergeant, are you sure?
Offender: Yeah, you'll be fucked.
Me: Sarge, he wants to make a complaint (I turn to the Sergeant holding the lads arm and who helped me tackle him to the ground in the first instance).
Offender: Eh?
Acting Sergeant: You deserved everything you got you cock, so shut it.
Offender: Oh, shit, oh well, you stick up for your own don't you.
Me: Your life is getting shitter by the minute isn't it? Shall I lead you to you cell Sir?
My respect of that Sergeant brimmed at that moment and I knew he would back me up whatever. It's when a Sergeant starts taking steps back away from you when people question you actions that winds me up and I would say that is what 75% of them would do under the same circumstances. It's a shame the good ones are also the bright ones and move on so quickly.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
PCSO? Me?
Can I ask you, if you haven't already read this, to look at this link to Gadget's blog.
http://inspectorgadget.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/what-really-matters-at-the-top/
It totally and completely sums up what is going wrong in the police right now. The upper ranks utter distaste for any form of 'real' bean counter free type policing and the need for them to measure utter shit for the sake of another promotion or PDR entry.
It drives me mad and I really feel for the lads and lasses still putting out on the frontline day to day rubbish.
In our force recently I was dragged into a meeting so that more 'consumer focused' clap trap could be spouted at me. We were then asked how we 'best served' our community. The team looked at each other shrugging, how the hell do we serve our 'customers'?
There were mutterings of 'pointing guns' at them but the shifty Supt at the front wouldn't have liked that one bit. We conceaded and we simply stayed quiet playing stupid and becoming the 'grey' man.
How deluded to you have to be to even contemplate how a specialised firearms team has a form of 'community engagement'? Utter and total crap and I still can't believe some of the upper ranks actually believe in it!!
I like to think that off duty I AM a member of the public. I think and do NORMAL things and I expect that when things go wrong and I dial 999 the right sort of people would turn up and sort the problem out. I don't care about customer service questionnaires, I don't actually care how the problem is solved in all honesty I just want it sorted and for me not to worry about it any more. I would hope most people feel like that. I don't want a policeman to hold my hand and want to know my feeling.... just nick the pillock and go away!
The whole 'customer focus' issue is simply a stat collection and paper pushing exercise to make the upper ranks feel they are justified in sitting in an office and not getting their polished bums out on the streets. It really is that simple.
The buzzwords are there to make them feel better, to delude themselves into thinking they are actually achieving these things.
Quite simply DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!
http://inspectorgadget.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/what-really-matters-at-the-top/
It totally and completely sums up what is going wrong in the police right now. The upper ranks utter distaste for any form of 'real' bean counter free type policing and the need for them to measure utter shit for the sake of another promotion or PDR entry.
It drives me mad and I really feel for the lads and lasses still putting out on the frontline day to day rubbish.
In our force recently I was dragged into a meeting so that more 'consumer focused' clap trap could be spouted at me. We were then asked how we 'best served' our community. The team looked at each other shrugging, how the hell do we serve our 'customers'?
There were mutterings of 'pointing guns' at them but the shifty Supt at the front wouldn't have liked that one bit. We conceaded and we simply stayed quiet playing stupid and becoming the 'grey' man.
How deluded to you have to be to even contemplate how a specialised firearms team has a form of 'community engagement'? Utter and total crap and I still can't believe some of the upper ranks actually believe in it!!
I like to think that off duty I AM a member of the public. I think and do NORMAL things and I expect that when things go wrong and I dial 999 the right sort of people would turn up and sort the problem out. I don't care about customer service questionnaires, I don't actually care how the problem is solved in all honesty I just want it sorted and for me not to worry about it any more. I would hope most people feel like that. I don't want a policeman to hold my hand and want to know my feeling.... just nick the pillock and go away!
The whole 'customer focus' issue is simply a stat collection and paper pushing exercise to make the upper ranks feel they are justified in sitting in an office and not getting their polished bums out on the streets. It really is that simple.
The buzzwords are there to make them feel better, to delude themselves into thinking they are actually achieving these things.
Quite simply DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!
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