The Police Application Thread

I always keep coming back round to joining the police force, I applied when I was 18 and got declined after the interview stage, flew through the assesment centre, on the grounds of 'life experience'.

Now I'm starting to think about applying again, I notice Warwickshire constablary are recruiting Specials, and this could be a way in to eventually doing it full time.

Although do you think the fact I am 30 this year could count against me?
 
just a word of advice...it is well thought that specials find it harder to get into the job properlyy based on the fact that police see it as "well if they'll do it for free" they'll keep doing it for free if we don't employ them/pay for them....
 
Von Smallhausen said:
The Met have secured funding to recruit again I hear.
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Yeah, I read this a couple of weeks ago.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12418406

I'm not sure if it's a typo, but apparently the extra funding only means another 29 officers by 2012 :p

The latest figures show there are 32,481 officers policing the capital.

Mr Johnson says the extra funding will mean 32,510 full time officers on the streets of London by May 2012.
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It's funny to think I'd actually be a Police Officer now, and probably would have been for nearly a year, had they not frozen the recruitment process. I was literally just waiting for a start date.

Now I'm not sure if I want to do it, not in London at least, I think I'd prefer to stick to Sussex.
 
I remember when Tony Blair was on a PM visit to the north east and I got talking to one of his close protection guys and asked him if the overtime was good. He was a Met cop.

He was single, had no ties and could go anywhere at a moments notice and he said he made over 100 grand the previous year although.

Oof. Not a bad wedge that and he gets a firearms ticket, advanced driving, VIP driving and CP accreditation to boot which is very handy if you decide to leave and into the private side of things.
 
It's so frustrating, it's something I've always wanted, but throughout the 18 month process I went through before, I did have stages of not being sure if it was right for me.

I'll likely go through it again if the opportunity comes up, we'll see. At the very least I'm proud of myself for effectively getting through all of the recruitment process for the Met, even if it didn't work out in the end :)

I'm only 25, plenty of time left, I suppose.
 
Von Smallhausen said:
I remember when Tony Blair was on a PM visit to the north east and I got talking to one of his close protection guys and asked him if the overtime was good. He was a Met cop.

He was single, had no ties and could go anywhere at a moments notice and he said he made over 100 grand the previous year although.
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And no danger of him having an affair with his principal's wife...:D


M
 
I'm just coming to the end of my probation. I can honestly say I've enjoyed practically every minute. I've learned bucket loads and this is only the beginning. I've attended all manner of jobs, from the sublime to the downright ridiculous!

Yes, every sprog, rookie, newbie or whatever particular phrase is 'in' at the time will undoubtedly spend time sat outside a cell, or on an overnight crime scene, guarding an empty house, but it's the job! I joined fully expecting to end up with the rubbish end of the stick, but I've found if you show willing (not to the point of being a soft touch) and volunteer, you'll find it happens less and less.

I've endured ups and downs. And I have thought about knocking it on the head and returning to my previous career, which incidentally is a LOT better paid. But I don't think I'd get the same satisfaction. Cheesy but true.

The current situation is not good, recruitment wise. In my (limited) opinion, I don't know how sustainable current figures are, given natural wastage etc, but well see in due course.

If a career as a bobby is what you want, then don't give up. Patience really is a virtue!

If the current economic/social climate remains as it is, we'll be needed more than ever.
 
Are there any Police/Specials here that are based in Leicestershire?

How did you find the application process?

My application form is effectively complete apart from the "what do you think would make you a good special" and the other situational question. The first seems OK however im just struggling to think of reasons. the second though is on a topic which I genuinely have not much experience, luck of the draw doesn't seem to be with me on that question.
 
ScarySquirrel said:
I'm only 25, plenty of time left, I suppose.
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Sussex have frozen recruitment, and have a number of sucessful candidates waiting for a start date. The process might start up again in April, however rumour has it that future entry to the regulars might only be open to specials. There is currently a big recruitment drive for specials...
 
dbov22 , would PM this but cant...

Be weary of how much recruitment info you post, remember what you signed when you did it ;)

Would hate for you to get pulled up on it after going through the whole process :-)

Edit : Nevermind, just seen that your Ex-Job too :) Funny that we left for the same reasons!
 
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julianhj said:
Sussex have frozen recruitment, and have a number of sucessful candidates waiting for a start date. The process might start up again in April, however rumour has it that future entry to the regulars might only be open to specials. There is currently a big recruitment drive for specials...
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At the time of applying for The Met in April 2009, and subsequently being told they'd stopped recruitment having passed everything (around April/June 2010 I think), it was a good option for me. Having said that I've made significant steps in my current career and the Police is something which still interests me, but just isn't something which makes sense to do any more.
 
Richie said:
If you dont mind me asking - why did you and dbov leave?

I ask so as to get an ex-cop's opinion for others that are looking at joining and possibly have an inaccurate idea about the job.
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Dbov sums it up in a post above, but if you want my exact reasons you can PM :)
 
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