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There are a lot of new police accounts about recently, quite a few of them asking for policing advice from some of us longer in the tooth members of our dysfunctional little family.
So here’s the grizzled, old ARV Sergeant’s two penneth (Thread):
So here’s the grizzled, old ARV Sergeant’s two penneth (Thread):
- Despite what you may have been told, your notes and records aren’t just to refresh your memory. We live in a world where the record _is_ the thing.
As such write your notes as if you expect some unsympathetic critic to be reading them several years in the future.
As such write your notes as if you expect some unsympathetic critic to be reading them several years in the future.
- Be pro-active where you can and have a good grasp of traffic legislation. This is your bread and butter and you can use it to really make life difficult for the people we ought be making life difficult for.
- In particular make frequent use of the S.172 notice. It requires owners of vehicles to disclose who was driving at the time of an offence.
Car successful escapes from you? S.172 notice.
Too many pro-active cops either don’t know about these or simply don’t follow up when the
Car successful escapes from you? S.172 notice.
Too many pro-active cops either don’t know about these or simply don’t follow up when the
fun part is over. You should be throwing these around like confetti.
- Body cam. Use it. Every interaction. Every time. No excuses. The world is full of people who would love to see you ruined, they aren’t above lying to achieve that. Don’t give them the opportunity.
- Body cam. Use it. Every interaction. Every time. No excuses. The world is full of people who would love to see you ruined, they aren’t above lying to achieve that. Don’t give them the opportunity.
- Social media. It can be fun and interesting to engage with people via social media but be very aware that there can be consequences.
For instance, should you be involved in a job where a person dies or similar (future AFO’s I’m looking at you) the fact that you have a social
For instance, should you be involved in a job where a person dies or similar (future AFO’s I’m looking at you) the fact that you have a social
Media account openly identifying yourself as a police officer is likely to have your application for anonymity refused. Do you really want the s*n turning up outside your mum’s house?
Also, organised criminals can and will try to trace you via social media, I’ve seen it
Also, organised criminals can and will try to trace you via social media, I’ve seen it
Protect yourself at home as well as at work.
- Get stuck in. If your colleagues are having a hard time with somebody or, worse still, fighting with somebody you get stuck in, every time, no excuses. If you can’t do this then you picked the wrong job and if somebody like me
- Get stuck in. If your colleagues are having a hard time with somebody or, worse still, fighting with somebody you get stuck in, every time, no excuses. If you can’t do this then you picked the wrong job and if somebody like me
sees you, you’ll be getting a rocket up your arse as one direct entry inspector recently found to his embarrassment.
- New on the shift? Brew up, it’s not degrading or humiliating. I did it when I was new and I’ll still do it now, you won’t be new forever and having your team accept you is important. Old cops are suspicious, don’t give us a reason to doubt you.
- For your first few years be the first out of the car, the first to the door, the first to make the arrest, then follow it up with good process. A reputation as a keen and effective thief-taker will open doors for you in future.
- Tale the time to learn your trade before specialising, you’ll be a better cop for it. I see too many cops barely out of their probation applying for the ARV’s. Response policing is a skill and it’s at the core of everything we do. Good response cops make good specialists.
- Enjoy yourself. Policing will let you see and experience things very few other people ever will. You’ll see people at their best and their worst. You’ll be scared enough to almost shit your pants one day and flying high after a great job the next.
Old cops love to moan, it’s part of the definition. Avoid becoming an old cop for as long as you can. It’s better for the public, it’s better for you.
- Keep on top of your fitness. I know it’s difficult to find time and it’s easy for somebody in my position to say but you owe it to yourself and your colleagues to be physically fit.
- Learn to fight. You’ll defuse most things with your mouth but, with alarming regularity, someone will try to seriously hurt you. I went with BJJ and think it’s perfect for cops but there’s plenty of options and if you don’t have time, at least be fit.
