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Does anyone know where I can purchase one of these but at a cheaper price?
http://www.copshopuk...e_2_Fleece.html

They're the same ones that our specialist teams used to get issued and they are very nice (smart and warm)

The wife has an issued one but won't let me use it
I don't want it for work, but for normal outdoor use as my current berghaus has seen better days after 4 years and I haven't been able to find a decent replacement for it.

I was in the pedestrianised area of a City Centre this afternoon, about 18:30 hours. It was dark. I was single crewed, and had just finished dealiing with a shoplifting offence in a large well known store, and had returned to my Police car, which I had parked outside. I had just started it up and put my seat belt on, when I saw an older lady, appearing to run towards my car.

I wound down the window and asked how I could help. She told me she was in the city on a day trip, with a coach full of older people, from around 80 miles away. She said that two members of their party had not returned to the meeting point to catch the pre-booked coach back, at 17:30, and that the bus had been an hour waiting for them. She said they were frail, and partially sighted.

I invited the lady to jump into the car, and informed the control room of the situation. I asked them to create an incident, and told them I was taking the lady with me to do an area search in attempt to find these older ladies.

Shortly afterwards, I had a call from a female PC, who said there were two lost ladies in reception at the central police station, and thought it might be them.

On this basis, I returned the lady I had with me to the coach, informed the driver I believed we'd located the missing two, and asked him to wait there, while I went and collected them.

I then drove to the central nick, and went into the public reception. I was greeted by two elderly ladies, who seemed quite confused, and said they'd caught a taxi to the Police station, because they were lost.

After confirming they were the missing two from the trip, I loaded their shopping, and walking frame into the rear of the Police car (focus estate), got them safely in, and drove them to where the coach was waiting.

I led the less able-bodied lady onto the coach, who was hanging on to my hand for dear life bless her. I walked her to the rear of the coach, and got her settled into a seat, whereby she promptly began crying with releif, followed by an enormous round of applause/cheers, as I left the bus.

Compared to all the rubbish, miserable jobs I have dealt with in the last three years, all the times I've been spat at, sworn at, all of the times I've taken grief from the public..... this very basic incident, and example of how we also help people, really restored a load of my faith in what we, as Police Officers, actually do.

Even compared to some complex jobs I've seen through, Eg pervert justice, nothing has made me feel anywhere near as good as this one in a long, long time, probably since an incident whereby I helped a suicidal person from a railway track off duty.

I'm not fishing for compliments, but I want to share how I feel, purely as a bit of encouragement for anyone who may be feeilng a bit jaded

(Edited by SC James - spelling mistake!)

Your rank PC
Your length of service 2 1/2 years
Your location South East London (Met)
Your planned duty hours 1700-0300 (actual finish 1130)
Duty Type late shift

Date: 6th of August 2011

A bit of a different one here....

I start work at 1700 hours. As it's a weekend our late shfits are moved back a few hours to overlap more with the night shift. I'm operating on the "Q car" - working in plain clothes in an unmarked car equipped with blue lights and two tones. I'm not a massive fan of working in plain clothes but it is a nice change to spend a month doing something a bit different.

As it's late saturday afternoon by the time we start things are already busy and despite having a lot of officers on duty we are still scrabbling around for units to take calls: the Q car often gets left alone and we can be a bit more picky with what calls we can take (indeed, there are some calls we really shoudn't take - RTCs, domestics or anything where you really should be in uniform). The Q car is also designed to be a bit more proactive rather than reactive - finding out own trouble. However, today is busy so we get stuck in and take calls pretty much like any other response car.

A call comes in to a "suspects on" - there are some men on a roof of some garages stealing lead. My sergeant is running to it and she is a lot closer than us. She goes to the informant who was in a property overlooking the incident. He was alerted to what was going on by some very young children - by the time he looked out the men were off the roof but he did see some guys moving some items into a room of a building next door. My sergeant guides me and my colleague to the location where this happened. It's a well-known hostel with some well-known nominals in it. I turn up and speak to some young men near to where they were seen. The informant and the seargeant couldn't positively identify any of them as the one's who definately were on teh roof/moving the stuff about. I ask one of the guys "If I look in there will I find any lead?" (the room where someone was seen going in and out of and where this guy haas actually just walked out of when we arrived)  And much to my surprise he says "yes"(!)

I immediately nick him on suspicion of handling stolen goods (I can't link him to being the chap initially on the roof - he doesn't match the description. I perform a s.32 PACE search on the room and lo and behold there is a quantity of lead roofing under the bed!

I take him into the nick for questioning and I have to deal with this case myself - I do the interview and he makes a full and frank confession: he said that the lead had just been given to him to look after by other residents in the hostel but he denies stealing it himself (this tallies with what our witnesses saw). He won't grass the others up. I'm sure we can get to the bottom of it in due course - but in the meantime we've got one charge for handling out of it. He's bailed out.

This whole process has taken a good few hours - such is life with British policing. It's now getting on for 2100 hours. Time for refs! We make our way to the takeaway (ringing our orders in ahead). On the way back a general message gets broadcast on our personal radios. No-one is to go home, a force mobalisation has been declared due to disorder in Tottenham. What?! - that was unexpected.... I immediately look on BBC news on my iphone. Nothing of note on there - it can't be that serious.

A minute or two later a roll-call of 7 level two officers (shield-trained public order officers) currently on duty is read out and told to report to our central police station at once. I only did the training 3 days before for the first time. I'm a complete rookie. My number is read out.

To be honest - I'm more irritated than anything else. I have no idea what is going on - but I've just got a steaming curry which I've been looking forward to for ages and this undoubtedly will mean I'll be off really late, unable to get home, and probably sitting on a carrier waiting for something to happen which never will do. i have a moan to my driver as we make our way to my nick so I can pick up my gear.

I arrive at the police station (a sattelite one - not the central one) and there is a buzz of activity. Most people aren't going up - it seems we're only sending one carrier. I head into the kitchen area to eat a couple of mouthfuls of curry (I don't know when I'm going to get to eat again) and then rush off to change into uniform (I'm in plain clothes remember) and get my riot gear. As I'm doing this I pass some officers watching a television and for the first time what is happening hits me.

I can see images of angry mobs rioting in Tottenham. A rumour goes around that we're going to be sent to the Broadwater Farm estate. My mouth goes dry and a shiver goes down my spine. I'mamazed that the name of this estate doesn't have much of a resonance with some of the PCs - do none of them know their history? Of course, amongst the sergeants and older members of the team the name is haunted.

This is begining to get serious. I don't know what our deployment will be so I put on my beat duty uniform and carry my riot kit in my bag. I head over to the main nick to meetup with my serial: we're a motley bunch made up from two different teams. I know most of them quite well though. I walk into the canteen where we were told to meet up and one of the sergeants says in a firm voice: "for god's sakes Ben, get kitted up!!!" He's watching the news and things are going from bad to worse. We're going into the middle of it.

I don't have my usual undergarments for my level two kit with me (long sleeved t shirt and joggers) so it's going to have to go straight over the top of my beat duty uniform. Someone comes in with some long sleeved tops we give to prisoners who have their clothes seized. I gratefully take one.

I've only ever worn the kit a couple of times and I think I look daft in it. I'm not a big bloke, I'm short, not muscley at all and wear glasses. One of my best friends on team always shouts out "awww, aint' he cute, Harry Potter off to war" whenever they see me in it. It always gets giggles from the others. I get kitted up in the writing room in front of all the other PCs. Jokes are being made but the seriousness of the developing situation is becoming clearer by the minute. The jokes are getting more nervous and I can see worry in the eyes of the PCs that aren't going when they look at our little group.

After getting dressed I make my way out to the carrier - I meet the sergeant who will be leading our serial up there by the bus. I'm glad it's him. He's ex-TSG, an all round nice bloke, compotent, confident and has seen his fair share of action. I wouldn't rather be with anyone else. He's business like and getting us to all look after eachother. He tells us we're heading straight for the middle of it and we're to meet up with our "bronze" commander outside Tottenham police station. We blue light it to North London........


As we pass the southern suburbs of London, then central London Saturday night is in full swing. It looks like any other Saturday night - people drinking and laughing in pubs and bars. As we go through trendy shoreditch I'm amazed at how no-one seems to bat an eyelid at our little bus zooming towards a full-scale riot.

We go up through Stoke Newington and as we pass the nick we see the first signs of the unfolding police operation: lots of carriers are apparently RVPing there - we just blat straight past to the riot a few miles up the road. We arrive in Tottenham a couple of minutes later.

I'm not ashamed to admit I was scared. I've never been scared, properly scared, before in this job before. But today I am - I feel slightly sick, my mouth is dry and I have an impending sense of dread. Stories from 1985 circle in my head over and over again - I have an interest in police history and have read accounts of what happened in Tottenham before over and over again. I now wish I didn't have such an interest. As we push up the main road the air is thick with smoke, I can see fires up ahead and huge crowds milling about. The whole place stinks of burning. There is shattered glass and bricks all over the floor. It's like something out of hell.

We get behind a cordon of officers - they are only level 3 officers -wearing normal beat duty uniforms - and we meet up with the "bronze" commander. The rest of our PSU (we are supposed to form a unit with two other buses of officers) has not arrived but there is an urgent task at hand - the fire brigade need escorting to the site of a fire. We get thrown together with a some different officers to make up a makeshift PSU and form a "bubble" around a fire crew and advance towards the site of a fire (if you saw the clip that was repeatedly used on BBC of the officers marching with the fire brigade this is that incident). We leave the safety of the cordon and march past the crowd. At this point we're not being attacked - many of the people in the crowd seem to be just spectators - others are chanting slogans and abuse at us. For god's sake! We're here to put out a fire!

We march a few hundred metres up the road but then the fire brigade commander decides to go back - I'm not entirely sure why - I think it's because another fire engine has got through via a different route. We return to our cordon. On the march back more abuse and insults are coming our way.

The crowd at this end are getting a bit more abusive now - people are coming right up to us and shouting abuse. There's nothing physical. Yet. The flames are behind us. I assume the riot is too.

I see Jody Mcintyre in his wheelchair - it's amazing how the same faces crawl out of the woodwork (I call over my sergeant just to make him aware who he is and that he and his mates may try to provoke some sort of reaction from us to feed his anti-police agenda). At one point Jody stands directly in front of the police line for a minute or two in what can only be described  as some sort of bizarre challenge. He then wheels his own chair awkwardly to one side. I see him a bit later courting a camera crew.

The most bizarre thing is though is the people that still want to get through and walk up brazen as anything to a line of police in riot gear. One tries to just barge past me and politely gets pushed back. It's for their own safety and they don't seem to grasp that a full-scale riot is taking place: despite the smoke in the air and the bricks on the ground. - Breaking the chronology a second, I was greatly amused much later on when things were calming down by a drunk guy who insisted and insisted that he had the right to come through. He was swearing, arguing and just wouldn't take the hint. He argued for a good twenty minutes and then eventually cleared off. Five minutes later he returned with what I assumed was an amateur film crew to air his grievences on camera. After a pointless argument with some (very polite) police officers the camera guy (who we assumed would be on his side) said "dude, you've made me waste 10 minutes of film! I'm already low on battery - I thought you had a genuine complaint against these guys. You're just a drunk twit!"   +1 for the Old Bill!

The crowd were slowly turning more hostile. The demographics of the crowd were changing too - there was a real mix of people before, old, young, black, white, male, female - plus quite a significant contingent of orthodox jews. Now the crowd seemed to mostly consist of young men in tracksuits - many with masked faces. It was getting a bit more sinister - I thought the riot was behind us!!!

Then came the bricks and bottles.

We came under a heavy shower of missiles from the crowd. In training it was a bit like tennis - you see them coming towards you and bat them away with your shield. Now it was dark and you had no idea where they were coming from. You can see members of the crowd with their arms going in throwing motions, you try and follow the missile but it gets lost in the dark sky. The next thing you know it's on top of you. I took a brick square in the shoulder. It knocked me back a pace or two but fortunately my pads protected me quite well. My colleague, who had also only just done her training with me, got hit square in the groin.

For several hours we stood there and took it. bottles, bricks, fireworks - you name it. It was extremely frustrating but we just didn't have the resources to go forward. Behind us there was no-one. If we charged forward  then people would have easily got in behind us and that would have been a disaster. I could hear other units elsewhere in the riot screaming for urgent assistance - officers were getting hurt. It was so frustrating not being able to go to them - but we had to hold our line where we were.

All of a sudden a police car - that was about 50 metres in front of us - initially manned by one PC directing traffic when we arrived came under sustained attack and then burst into flames! What happened to that PC that was up there?! no-one seemed to know in all the confusion. We had to go and check. We drew batons and were ordered forward in a rush.

This is when the "100 metre heroes" come into play. All the big men that want to shout and throw things suddenly become cowards when we actually advance. We were outnumbered 5 to 1 but these cowardly criminals have no appetite for a real fight. We get within a few metres of the car and we are satisfied that the PC is long gone. We return to our previous positions and we watch the car burn.

We've been on this line for hours now. I'm starving but more to the point I am desperate for a drink. The public order clothing makes me sweat like anything. I've not eaten or even drunk anything properly for hours and hours. About 0300 hours things are quieter in my sector and we reduce the number of people on the line to have rolling breaks.

I go into Tottenham nick and see dozens of exhausted looking PCs sprawled all around the nick. I manage to find a cup and a tap and liberally down several cup loads of water. I then sit in the abandoned front office, alone in the dark, for five minutes to gather my thoughts and get the welcome effects of a fan someone has left on. I potter into the yard to find my colleagues and I see the best, most welcome, operational feeding ever! Someone has turned up in a minibus rammed full of chocolate bars, bottled water and bananas.... where they got them I have no idea. I get a much-needed sugar hit!

We resume our position on the line a short time later. Not much is happening here now (we have the incident with the drunk guy and the film crew). We can hear reports of looting and sparodic disorder elsewhere but here it seems our battle is over. By the sounds of it we didn't have the worse of it but it was still tough - I wasn't prepared for it when I woke up the previous morning.

We stand on the line for another few hours - at about 0930 we are relieved by a group of officers who had arrived from Thames Valley and Kent. I never thought I'd be so grateful to see the county mounties!

We get back on the bus and each write a statement for the night's activities - paperwork doesn't stop just because there's a riot! We then "move the carrier around" to get it pointing in the right direction for leaving (it's actually just an excuse to go on a little drive to see the devesation behind our position. It's amazing. The sight of the Carpetright building, the remains of the bus and the burnt out police cars are all like something out of a disaster film. Bleary-eyed residents are starting to emerge and gaze in shock and disbelief at the state of their high  street. I take a few photos on my phone.

The morning shifts are still organising their reliefs and their roles. We sit for what seems like ages but eventually we are told we can go - it's been a long night but the sergeant has to go for a debrief at the control centre - frankly, it's an unwanted delay for all. We sit outside for quite a while and then someone mentions McDonalds. I am suddenly starving. We drive off in search of a sausage and egg McMuffin.

We get in the queue when the sergeant rings us and we tell him we're getting some breakfast. He says "come back and pick me up, we need to go home". We leave without getting our breakfast!!! one PC looks close to tears!

A few seconds later the sergeant rings again - he misunderstood - he thought we said we'd already had breakfast! He says that of course we can get sme food! and he'd like a McMuffin too! suitably fortified we went and collected him and went back to the nick. Our duties office had already rang us and told us we had to be back in work for 1900 that evening. We book off at 1130.

It's only the start of one of the longest weeks of my life....

Sometimes I think that we don't give ourselves enough credit for what we do....here's a little reminder

Hi my name is Steve; I have been working in around and for police since 1994. You will know me as SBG on here.

I want to tell you a story, mainly for the blokes on here but also for the woman so that they can tell men too. We all think when we are on the streets that we are going to get shot, stabbed or hurt in another way but the one thing that we never check is ourselves. We put our issue body armour on, cuffs baton and spray, hoping that we never have to use it. Deal with drugs, violence and abuse every day or just when we can, but what are protecting us and society from? I have lived a healthy-ish lifestyle, don't smoke, may be drink a little never used drugs ok a little over weight, even exercised, especially when I have to re-qualify in OST! But I never though my own body would say sod you!

I found a lump, just a small one on the left, it was different felt wrong. It's the beginning of October, It will go away. I was on holiday with my husband, and another couple doing the Sound of Music Tour from Salzburg, enjoying the alpine way of life not thinking of anything other than I don't have to go to work tomorrow and enjoying the scenery. So the holiday is over and work starts a pace, have do don PDRs on my officers, compulsory training schedule needs to be sorted out and have some operations that need to be sorted. So here comes November, the lump has not gone away, in fact start to get a little pain, from the left.

Its Monday and its my appointment, see my doctor, I am nervous and I am cold, the waiting room is crowded, do I need to do this? It will go away, the unfriendly noise of the matrix board sounds "Steve for Doctor" flashes up so I go through, she says hi I don't sit and tell her that I have found a lump and it's a little painful. "Ok" she says, "let's have a look at you". The curtain is pulled round you and you know that you need to sit on the bed, no lay down. Waiting there whilst you hear the familiar sound of gloves being pulled on is strange you have never been on the other end of the latex before. Doctor feels in and finds the same lump as you have and asks you to confirm that it's the same one by feeling yourself and you say yes, the Doc says ok. You dress and sit back down next to them and they say "ok lets get you seen" you know what it is, but you don't know what IT is.

Three days later the post arrives and you have an appointment. You let your husband / loved one know that you have to go to hospital, and they ask you why you have not told them before, you cant answer that but all you care is they are there with you when you go to hospital. You enter the unit and see how many people are sat before you, with your iPod and book ready for a wait. Your called forward you enter, sit and go through the embarrassing story again. The consultant feels, writes some notes and feels again and then says "Lets get that scanned – if you go next door they will do it straight away". You walk into another room. Another Doctor is waiting with some warm KY jelly and a ultrasound machine, then starts taking pictures of your balls. The right one looks like a grape, on the screen white and stripy. The left on the other hand is a black void. You hear the click of a camera release, like SOCO on a crime scene, several times whilst you are lying there.

Once dressed and cleaned up you have the third room with a nurse practitioner and consultant, you know what is coming but your not quite ready for it. "I am sorry to say that you appear to have a tumour, I would like to admit you now" But my car is in the NCP, "we would like to carry an Orchiectomy as soon as possible, so if you cant come in tonight then please come in tomorrow morning. You need to be nil by mouth from midnight."

I cried. Tony was a rock and was there immediately for me. What was this? I have cancer, testicular cancer. Why, what have I done why me, why now, why do perfect situations have to go wrong. The nurse looked after us both making us a brew. I must have sounded off several times and asked again why oh and once more why. Tony sat and asked the real questions. He rang my work, my boss knew what was going on, Sue was fine. My parents were next. I had called them from work this morning. I hadn't wanted to worry them. Mum had said call her once I had an answer. Living in Spain, they were anxious for news. I called them and told them that I had to go into hospital for an operation. Mum was upset, but ok Dad concerned. We spoke for a while once we had returned home, thanks to the internet and webcams.

Reporting to the ward on Wednesday, about 6 weeks from finding the lump, I was prepped for surgery. The nursing staff, as expected, were great, attentive and looked after Tony, I would be fine. They would remove this ball and that would be the end of it. At 11 I went to surgery, Guy's has never looked so big before, strange how things look from a being pushed and not being able to walk there. The central operating area approached I was asked my name date of birth more time than I had ever asked someone in custody. Once though all the checks I ended up in the anti room to the theatre. There once again I repeat my name and Date of Birth. They confirm what is happening again and then I am put to sleep.

I woke up with the junior nurse that I had gone down from the ward with to theatre, looking over me, "he is awake" the charge nurse gave me some drugs for the pain. The porter comes and takes me back to the ward.

Its Thursday, we leave via taxi for home, minus one part of me.

Friends, facebook, email is going strong with messages of support and help. Both services that I have worked for have been on the phone. BTP and the Met are asking how they can help, Andy my s/Sgt is filling in for me making sure the paperwork is being filled out and any emails are being answered. Amazon is sorting out Christmas. Then the next round of hospital appointments starts.

I have to have several blood tests, CT scans and kidney function tests, so much so I think of transferring to Guys SNT! But I still have not had the result that I need to know. The appointment is two weeks after the operation. Tony and I are waiting for that information more that anything else, has the cancer spread?

The clinic at Guys that this all started is becoming familiar, I return, my parents are flying back tomorrow and so I am looking forward to seeing them. I told them not to fly back before as we could talk each day on the internet, which worked well. My mum was better, Dad ok too. So it was today that I would get my oncology results.

It hadn't spread; the tumour was a level one seminoma that had now been removed.

That's it its all over! Tony wept. We both were relieved to hear the news, I think I had worked myself up to thinking the worst and I am not sure what he had thought.

Well not quite. The chances of it coming back are 16 to 20%. "So what's happens next?" I asked. Chemotherapy was the answer it would reduce the risk to 0-5% of reoccurrence and only one dose. I had survived. My treatment continues and I will keep you updated.

The treatment has started and I feel ok, not too sick, a bit tired and I am not able to do any duty at the moment, but at least I am ok. To my friends, colleagues and family that have been around me to support me thank you! I have to also thank the NHS, whilst we all hear stories about how bad it is. From me going to my doctor to operation was NINE days. The treatment that I am now getting is first class and the nurses and doctors are dedicated and committed.

For those who work with me I will be back shortly and those who drive trade vehicles through my parks, watch out! Those who know me on here thank you for your support and morever I couldn't survive without out and I will be at the next LPDC oh and the first is on me!

To Tony I love you x

I found it in time so I have two words, male or female

Check yourself!

Steve


Edit - Picture of me and Tony (Left) (me right with the red rack sack on) at the Eagles Nest

Its 16:45 and the office is filled with the merriment of that Friday feeling, you look around and see the anticipation of a frosty pint in everyone's eyes as they exchange schematics of nightclub movements and dressing details. Finally its your turn to be questioned, people cant help but notice the adrenaline fueled finger tapping on your desk has reached near critical as the final minutes tick by, somebody asks "So... What have you got planned?". A faint film of perspiration condenses across your forehead and you explode in eagerness and excitement, "Oh! Me! I'm working 8 hours tonight and tomorrow! Cant wait!" There is a deafening silence followed by the thud of several fainting staff members as it dawns on their unbelieving agony stricken faces that you aren't being sarcastic.

I am the Central Motorway Police Group Inspector who had to retire because of Regulation A19 and decided to come back as a Special Constable.

First thing, may I say how good it was to read that the majority of you are supportive. Secondly, I need to let you know a few facts just to prevent the spread of any misinformation or rumours.

I made the decision to become a Special all by myself, with no suggestion or encouragement from elsewhere. Having made the decision, the Special Constabulary hierachy were very supportive, as was my Chief Superintendent. As things progressed and I stumbled across a few bureaucratic obstacles, ACPO, the Police Federation and a number of senior Police Staff, all assisted in kicking those obstacles into touch. Hopefully, if any regular decides to follow my lead, they will find the path somewhat easier.

I have kept my driving grade. I have not had to undergo any further training as, after 34 years and 4 months, including 13 years as a Traffic Inspector and 7 years on the Motorway, I flatter myself that I am fully trained. I will, however, have to be refreshed at the same intervals as anyone else - PST and First Aid training being the obvious examples.

I remain in the specialist post in which I was serving and I am assisting in the integration of more of the Special Constabulary into the CMPG. I have not got a new uniform - apart from my epaulettes. I was able to keep my old collar number, prefaced with a '7', so I don't even have to remember a completely new number.

No, I supose I'm not the usual Special as someone put it, but I hope to be able to continue to make a meaningful contribution to policing for a while yet.

Just to conclude, my regular service finished at midnight on March 31st. At midnight, I was sworn in as a Special Constable, thus making my service continuous.

I would rearrange his facial features, and see if he laughs then.

Why does everyone but me seem to get awesome issued kit?

Those look quite good, I may be interested in getting one too but I'm not paying 90-odd quid for it.

Since i've got some time to kill before I next go to "not be anywhere to be seen when theres crime taking place" (or 'work' as I call it). I thought i'd find some images to help support my argument...

Kettling? Not enough space to move around or get out of the way of the missles Optio?



Looks like they all have loads of room to move around doesn't it. If you were penned up against the Police then it was your own group penning you in, not us. We have to be there to keep you contained to a point, because if we don't you'd have splintered off and we'd have been chasing after you (Oxford St and Prince Charles as an example?). But of course you're there to peacefully protest at Parliament, so why would you want to be anywhere BUT Parliament? Therefore why should it matter if we keep you in Parliament Square?

The Police started the violence using Kettling and Mounted Division did they Optio?


(Image shamelessly stolen from recent Inspector Gadget Blog article - http://inspectorgadget.wordpress.com/

This photograph was taken before 14:00 hours (thats 2pm) BEFORE any containment went on, and before the Mounted Division did their one-and-only charge into the crowd. If you were peaceful up until that point, how do you explain this photo? To quote the immortally wise Gadget;

Officers in the front line in Parliament Square have told this Blog about plastic bottles of p*** being thrown into their faces 3 hours before any containment went on. One Inspector has told me that the verbal abuse and disrespect was far worse than anything experienced from the EDL or the BNP, again, long before any containment lines went in.

Just gone to beat up the protesters have they Optio?



Say that to him.



Or him.



Or him.

But then, it's our job right? We should expect it right? We wouldn't rather be at home with our families at all would we... I hope you never find yourself a part of the ever-thinning blue line. I hope you're always in position to preach from your armchair of wisdom.

Peaceful protest?





I hope you know what those statues represent to millions.

[img]http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-global/dims3/BLOG/resize/590x393%5E/crop/590x393/http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/adam/fba6df23ac5b3cc74e63802beb789bb0/N0267861290680469638A.jpg[/img]

Welcome to London.

You try to open your front door with your personal access key,
You answer the phone with Go Ahead
People who have never spoken to you before at work ask you about aspects of policy policy which you can't divulge
People who used to talk quite freely about their unlawful dealings stop talking to you
You find your 'day clothes' feel a bit lightweight after walking about with an extra 10kg of body armour and equipment
You find yourself people watching
The innocence regarding the normally unseen activities in you neighbourhood is lost

Well, after hitting 10 years service this week, I've made the very difficult decision to call time on my service in the police.  I have been dwelling on it for some time, but despite that it feels odd that I've actually gone and done it.  I always regarded myself as a career Special - up until just a couple of years ago I saw myself aiming for 20 or 30 years service.

 

The time I've had in the Specials has been nothing short of amazing, and regardless of any moans that some including myself may have on here about policing, if any of you reading this aren't Specials and are considering joining then you need to just do it.  It's given me so much life experience, and considering I left school at 16 with virtually no qualifications, it has benefited me immensely outside of the police as well.  I don't regret joining for a moment.

 

I applied unsuccessfully at 18, and then again at 19.  I felt like giving up, but persevered and finally got in at 20 on my third attempt.  Lord Vader was actually one of my assessors, and as well as him I've worked with a number of forum members off here.  I have worked with lots of brilliant officers, but I want to pay special thanks on here to markdn who is my S/Insp and who I've worked with for over 5 years now.

 

I've had a great time as a Special - I reckon I've had somewhere in the region of 50-60 arrests since I joined, some of whom have gone to prison for their crimes.  I've been on TV twice and met some amazing people - not just colleagues but members of the public too.  I've both witnessed and been subject to violence and dealt with everything from dead bodies to the dead stupid.  Burglars, drug dealers, people shagging in their cars, illegal raves, car thieves - I've dealt with all these types people and situations and countless others.  I honestly don't think there is any voluntary job out there that gives you as much responsibility or exposure to the real world as what being a Special Constable does.

 

The job alone can be incredibly difficult anyway, even more so with the fact that we don't have the same level of knowledge or training as regulars.  I know I'm a mod and could be seen as biased, but this forum has been a huge help, both in terms of individual bits of advice from forum members, as well as finding answers to anything I've been unsure of.  On that note I also want to thank those of you that have given me advice and guidance, both on the forum and in PM, over the years.

 

I will still be serving until the end of April, and will then hand my kit and my warrant card back.  I don't know what I will do in terms of moderating on here - I will continue for the short term at least but after that we shall see.  Whatever I decide in terms of whether to continue moderating, I will definitely stick around and continue as an active member of the forum.

 

Giraffe

Not quite a full shift write up but the story of my first arrest on my first night shift

Was teamed up for the night with a PC but first job out of briefing and she locks up for a really complicated burglary with intent to steal. She's got loads of statements to take, and we've got some concerns over the prisoner so I jump in the back of the van to go back to custody. All booked in, we go back to do a house search, then back off to custody again to drop the forms and the prisoner's keys back off (whoever came up with the idea of putting custody at the very far end of the division needs their heads checking..). PC is still doing statements, not much I can do so I stay in the van for the ride out. We get diverted to one or two jobs. I've not worked with this PC before, but he's good, I like him.

Heading back to the nick, we hear comms trying to assign a job of two prowlers seen trying car doors and boots. PC asks if I fancy going taking a look, I'm up for that, so we shout up and take it, its not too far away. We get there and take a look down the street the males were last seen in. There's a bit of a feeling about this job, we both feel it, and decide we'll take a better look. We both jump out, split up and take a look around. No sign of anything, but still something doesn't feel right. Not to sound too cheesy, but it was just a bit too quiet...

Jump back in the van and decide we'll do a bit of an area search. Take the next turn off down a side street and I spot a security light on. We jump out again and have a walk round. I spot another security light on the side of the house on the corner of the main road. We head that way to take a look. We head into the side garden to have a look and a listen, PC thinks theres someone nearby, and walks down the side back towards the main road to have a look. Suddenly, there's a noise of bushes rustling, and heavy footsteps behind me, I can't see but I shout out, the PC turns, and starts running, I follow. He shouts up that he's chasing two males, and they've gone into gardens and are fence hopping. I've still not seen them myself. I realise I can cut them off by heading back to where we've parked the van, so I turn and run that way. Shout up to advise I'm on the other side and the males are sort of contained. PC asks for further units on the hurry up and a dog. Apparently though, there's no dog on duty. Useful.

Alls now gone quiet, another double crewed unit arrives. It's not taken me long to get back round to my side, so the males must have gone to ground. I start looking in gardens as best I can whilst keeping the containment on this side. The regs are searching the main road side where the males were last seen. I keep hearing noises, but I can't tell if it's the suspects, the other officers, or just cats (I almost shouted up I'd found them once, only to realise it was a cat. That could have been embarassing...). I hear one sound from the area around a house, and find the gate open. It's directly behind the area they were last seen. I shout up and the regs join me, we check everywhere but can't find any trace. I even check the bins. The regs go back to the main road and I stay on the side street. I have a wander down the road and find almost every gate open. We've obviously disturbed these males, they've been busy looking all down this street.

45 mins passes, we've still had no further sightings. Comms have asked for an update at least once, we're going to have to give up. I go and lean on the bonnet of our van and carry on keeping an eye out on my side. Feel a bit dissapointed, I was sure we'd got them contained, but there's no sign anywhere. I curse the lack of dog unit a few times. It's a Friday night, why isn't there a bloody dog on duty. A resident comes out to talk to me, he just wants to know why we've been in his garden and whats going on, he's friendly enough so we chat for a bit. Ironically, the security light we initially came to check out is broken, and apparently goes on and off all night.

While we're standing there, there's a sound again. We both stop dead and listen, I'm struggling to pick out the direction with an ear piece in, but the MOP is certain it came from the area we'd looked in earlier. I have another look. The MOP heads to the end of the road and says he'll cover that side. I'm sure we've checked one garden thouroughly, but it shares a drive with next door. I can't get into their garden, their conservatory is right up against the garage, and there's a fence panel in the way. I shine my torch in the garden through the conservatory and peer through the reflection. My heart stops for a minute, there's a recognisable shape at the bottom of some bushes. I stop still for a second to process it, I want to be really sure this time, I've already shouted up once. I'm sure though, I can see a shoe, and I can make out the leg its on the end of.

I step away and whisper into the radio. Comms can't hear me, I have to step back a bit further and speak a bit louder, I'm scared they'll be gone when I go back to the garden, but they've not moved. I wait until my three colleagues arrive, and point to the beam of my torch. The PC I'm crewed with is practically jumping up and down and whispering "***ing good lad! ****ing great spot! Nice one!". We move the fence panel out of the way and the two of us squeeze through the gap and into the garden. We walk right over and drag them out one at time. They've been curled up fetal under these bushes the whole time. They stayed there right until we were stood next to them!

PC cuffs one and passes him out through the gap to the other officers. I cuff the other, my hands are shaking a bit, first time my cuffs have been used for real! We take them back to the vans and stick one in each for the trip back. I get plenty of pats on the back and well dones. We have a quick chat and decide what to arrest them for. They've obviously been out looking to steal stuff, and when searched they've got some strange things in their possesion, and we found some gloves in the bushes but the discription on the initial call was "two white males", and we've not found any signs of a break in anywhere. Quick point to point with the sergeant, and we go for Suspicion of Interferance with a Motor Vehicle. Hopefully some jobs will come in in the morning and we'll be able to tie them to it. PC asks how many I want, and we decide to split it. I open the van and give mine the good news, stumbling a bit over the caution.

On the way to custody, the PC gets a point to point from the inspector, he's been listening and is thrilled with the result, he promises to put it on his log and make sure a good investigation is done in the morning, he comes down whilst we're in custody and has a chat with us. I'm made up

Unfortunately, nothing further came in, and the description was too weak to tie them to the original call, so they were released 24 hours later. Dissapointing, but as the inspector told us, we've disturbed them, interupted their night, inconvenienced them with 24 hours in a cell, and probably stopped them from getting something. The intelligence is there now, and I fully believe in karma, their time will come! And I get a cracking first arrest, and a great story to tell!

They really do become like water off a duck's back.... Just try and remember its directed at the uniform and the position you hold, not you as a human being.

Learn yourself a few phrases to respond with to this sort of junk and keep them in your armoury. Something polite which appears witty which hammers home the point that those comments aren't ones to be made to you if they want to go home for the night.

Something like "carry on and this doesn't end well for you". Listen to how more experienced Officers respond, pick up their phrases, their tone and their body language, and you'll soon start to get your message across whilst still appearing friendly-ish. My regular one is to ask people to tell me again I can't do something...

I'm taking your drink off you as you're under-age.
You can't do that.
Yes I can.
No you can't.
Yes I can.
No you can't.
....deep breath in.... You going to tell me again I can't?

"You were bullied at school weren't you."
"No mate, I did the bullying."

"You're only saying it because I'm black"
"You're only saying because I'm white. Now who's the racist?"

"I pay your wages"
"I pay your benefits" or "Excellent I'm on double time tonight, cheers for that."

"I make twice your salary"
"Can I have a pay rise then as I'm sure you'll be telling me next you pay my wages."

"I'm not talking to you, I'm old enough to be your Dad"
"It doesn't say much about you then that someone so young is telling you to grow up."

"Wait until I see you off duty."
"You'd have to look hard, I wouldn't be seen dead round here."

Keep it civil, keep it to the point, and if all else fails remember you ask them, then you tell them, then you make them. You can't say you didn't give 'em enough warning to adjust their behaviour! From your post you sound pretty switched on though, you'll become more adept at such inane conversation soon enough.

You could alternatively just ignore them, but depending on the audience there's no harm in responding in kind in my opinion, providing its polite. Most replies will confuse them so much either their head will explode or they'll walk off home to try and figure out what you meant.

Has your kit ever failed you?

My fellow officers noticed my fly was broken on the uniform trousers during a briefing.

and to what extent?

There was no extension at this point, thankfully (most of the blood was rushing to my cheeks).


It was an emotional day.

Sounds like your "friend" is actually a massive bellend.

As this is a topic that comes up on a regular basis, I thought it might be helpful to compile a list of which forces in the UK allow specials to drive police vehicles, and at what level.

I've started the list with the ones that I know of, so, if you know of any more, please PM me with them, and I'll edit the original post, rather than clutter up the thread with the inevitable posts pointing out errors or omissions.

Most (if not all) police forces will only allow specials onto a training course if there is a need, and usually, you (the special) have to be able to show this need, though some do offer it as a matter of course once a special is independant (I've not used an acronym for that as a lot of forces call it different things).

I've done the table as a picture, so that it can be changed without having to worry about the "Edit Post" button on here which disappears after a while.

Where you see numbers in the chart, instead of (or as well as) a tick or cross, please refer to the notes at the bottom.

Please also note that the ticks only mean that courses are available to Specials, not that any special will necessarily be able to actually get on one of them.

why on earth would you need a stab vest to go out handing out leaflets?!

John Carle and Naria Elrick stopped an armed robber attempting to break in to two shops in New Deer.

15 February 2011 12:58 GMT

Brave cops: John Carle and Naria Elrick awarded

A police chief has commended the bravery of a senior animal welfare officer and his colleague who risked their lives to catch a bungling armed robber.

John Carle, of the Scottish SPCA, and Naria Elrick, 46, leaped into action when knife-wielding teenager Alan Hemsley targeted the village of New Deer in Aberdeenshire.

Residents watched as Hemsley attempted to rob two village shops armed with a wooden baton and a knife. He fled the scene when Mr Carle and Ms Elrick, who were volunteering at a Remembrance Day parade, gave chase and eventually cornered him in a bar.

Scottish SPCA chief inspector John Carle spends his days investigating incidents involving animals across the north-east region. But he switches uniforms to go out on the beat as a special constable at night.

It has emerged that Mr Carle and Ms Elrick, both 46, will be awarded a Chief Constable's Commendation for their acts of "supreme courage" later this year.

Describing the incident, Mr Carle said he had been asked to volunteer at the parade when the drama unfolded on November 14. He said the two specials eventually caught up with Hemsley - who said he wanted to stab a police officer - in the Brucklay Arms village pub.

On the way to the bar, Hemsley held his knife and wooden baton at a passer-by.

Mr Carle said: "He ran up the street and into the pub. All we could hear were the screams of the ladies in the bar. It was like something out of the Wild West.

"Some of the locals had managed to get him cornered. We went in and warned him to drop his weapons. I knew he wasn't going to do it so I drew my CS gas and me and my colleague both sprayed him."

The teenager then lunged forward and tried to hit Special Constable John Carle with one of his weapons. But Constable Carle managed to deflect the blows with his truncheon, grabbed Hemsley and handcuffed him.

He added: "I had a face full of CS gas - which was not very pleasant."

Hemsley was sentenced to 12 months detention in a young offender's institution after admitting a string of charges earlier this month. He pled guilty to attempted robbery, assaulting a man and attacking a special constable by attempting to strike him with a piece of wood.

Chief Constable Commendations are awarded to members of a police force who carry out their duties with a high degree of bravery.

Grampian Police Chief Constable Colin McKerracher said: "The professionalism and dedication shown by Naria and John during this incident is a credit to both themselves and to Grampian Police.

"It shouldn't be forgotten that Special Constables voluntarily give up their own free time to serve their local communities which makes the level of bravery shown during this incident all the more remarkable.

"I would like to congratulate John and Naria on receiving the Chief Constables Commendation which I hope is fitting recognition of their willingness to go beyond the call of duty."


Link: http://news.stv.tv/s...ielding-robber/


John Carle volunteered to help out with our first day of training. He has been a Special for a many years and seems like a thoroughly good chap. Very well done to both of them - I'm sure that isn't what they expected when they signed-up for a Rememrance Parade though!  

Guys, thanks very much for the comments, but I would like to point out that it was in fact Naria who managed to get him cuffed as I was dealing with the after effects of being sprayed with CS.
I thought it would be a nice quite few hours duty and I did actually think twice about taking my CS out as I thought "it is only a rememberance day parade, what could go wrong". This was the first time in 28 years as a Special that I have been in this situation.
It is nice a get a positive story about the Specials and the Police for a change.
Once again thanks for all the good comments
Gazza, you can come round to me office with the tea and biscuits