becoming a police officer?

Question

i want to become a police officer but i dont know what the actualy job its self is like, wat are the hours like, can someone please help, uk only please

Answer 1

If I'm honest I'd have to say it's not how they sell it!
You are judged by your figures I.E how many arrests, detected crimes etc but this is inevitable as there obviously has to be a way to make sure you're pulling your weight, as with any job.
The hours are ok but I'm used to working all hours anyway and have done for years. It is nice to be on your way home to sleep after a night shift when everyone else is going to work on a Monday morning!
My day shifts are from 7 to 4 or 5, lates are from 3 or 5 till 11 or midnight or 6 pm till 4 am depenidng on the day of the week. Night shifts are 10 pm till 7 am. I do however work a busy, multicultural city so I can (and usually do) have to work extra hours to deal with incidents. Shift rota is 6 or 7 days on with 3 or 4 days off (day 1 being after your last night shift).
The work is varied, stressful at times, frustrating most of the time because the UK Court system needs a damn good shack up! It can however be great fun and 90% of the people I work with are great.
I'm proud of what I do but if I could make changes to the way it's done I'd have a very long list to compile!
If you can put up with a job where you're respected by some of the population and criticised all the time by the rest, whatever you do, then it's a job for you. Just keep your head, don't get too big for your boots and ignore the people who criticise, as you can rest safe in the knowlegde that they are usually the ones who've have been on the wrong side of the law or who know nothing about how much is expected of the modern bobby!
Above all, do what I do, the best you can with what you have to work with!
Good luck

Answer 2

Requirements to become a police officer vary and how you become a police officer varies depending on the department. Visit the websites of the police departments that you might be interested in working for. Police department websites often provide information about their applicant requirements, about how to apply, and about their hiring process. Some relatively common minimum requirements include having at least a high school diploma or ged, being a citizen, being at least 21 years old, having a valid driver's license, and having no felony convictions. Some relatively common steps in hiring processes include application, written test, physical fitness test, interview, drug test, medical examination, and background investigation. Some departments will hire you and send you to the academy. In this case, you would already have a job and be paid while attending the academy. Some departments want to hire applicants that have already completed the academy. Some academies allow you to apply, and if you meet their requirements and are accepted, pay tuition to attend hopes of getting hired by a police department. You should consider getting a college degree if you can. Many departments require or prefer applicants to have college. Many applicants have college. Having a degree could help you get hired. Some departments pay their officers more if they have a degree. Having a degree could also help you get promoted during your career. Getting police officer jobs is becoming more and more competitive. Do whatever you can to make yourself the best candidate that you can. For example, don't do anything illegal, maintain a good reputation, keep a good driving record, don't get bad credit, improve all of your communication skills as much as possible, practice to improve your observation and memory skills, and become as physically fit as you can. Consider local, state, and federal jobs. How well you do on written tests and during interviews can be very important when trying to get police officer jobs. Make sure to prepare for any tests and interviews. See http://www.peaceofficerjobs.com

Answer 3

Go to your local nick and ask if you can do a ride along with some local Officers. Most UK forces encourage people to do this and it is the only way you'll truly know what the job is like at the smelly end of the stick. Take a pen and notepad with you so you can make lots of notes and also think of some really good questions to ask. I would suggest you tag onto a late shift if possible because usually the CHAVs that are our bread and butter customers don't wake up until after 4pm!

Answer 4

Read a book called 'Wasting Police Time' by David Copperfied, that should give you a rough idea. 'Talking Blues' by Roger Graef is also very good but slightly less relevant for our modern police service.
Shifts vary between different forces and are subject to change with little notice. You get critisised for everything you do and critisised for anything you don't do, so you need to be very thick skinned just to get through the day. You'll also need a good sense of humour but don't let someone overhear you telling a joke because if they find it offensive in any way you'll be hung out to dry by the political correctness lobby.

Answer 5

Go on your local force website and then look for the link to be a constable, it will give you all the info you need. If your not sure if its the right move for you you can apply to be a special constable, were your a volunteer officer which will give you an insight.

If you don't think being a pc is for you but you want to work in that area your local force website will advertise police support staff vacancies, so you can help out without the nasty shift work!

good luck!

Answer 6

Hours for the avon and somerset area are about 56 hours per week then 4 days off. You will work shifts ie early shifts of 7 - 5 then mid shifts of 1pm til 11pm and night shifts of 11 til 7.
The job is very rewarding and they are bringing in new systems all the time to cut down on the paper work!

Answer 7

just care. then get some life experience and then join.

i am not speaking for all but most of the service don't care. i will give you an example.

off duty cop reports incidents in his local area to pcso's, he gives valuable intel to them but doesn't wish to give it himself because he is seen to be creating a ball of shite for some other desk bound intel layabout....the information is refused politely and because the pcso's are now afraid to do the job they are paid for also. the pcso's main role to collate intel and forge links with the public , which for all intents and puposes i do belive off duty cops still are.

example 2...off duty cops who act toi detain offenders against the peace are seen as jobs worth and usually slagged off, by the lazy bone idle cops, this causes problems for the off duty cop, because he is what the public want but the majority of cops are the lazy types, who then mix him a bottle...sound about right hey.

the police don't really want intelligence or information at the lower level, this is seen as extra work and is frowned upon.

my ideal police service would be full of proactive go get them and foock the consequences and pace and just remove the streets of the shite vermin hoody cheese smelling fucknotes that populate this once great and will be again when the bnp get in land

Answer 8

If your'e a straight, white British male you've got no chance - haven't you heard of hundreds of good applicants being overlooked so the figures at Downing street look good - in regards to representation of minority groups.

Answer 9

WHY.the ones i have met are arrogant and beneath contempt.dont ruin a good education on that.join a proper force like the army.

Answer 10

not many are recruiting as my son wants to be one(hes been trying to apply online for 6 months with no luck)

this might help though
http://www.how2become.co.uk/police.htm

http://www.met.police.uk/recruitment/