84 replies to this topic

[ellisj19]

Hello there i have just had an email from the MET saying that my first choice is too congested with police officers, however they offered me the chance to apply for the OSU,(operational support Unit), east base based in Havering. This sounds appealing however im aware they mainly operate friday and saturday nights. I would like to do more than 16 hours a month, does this mean i can only operate friday and saturday nights? as i want to achieve IPS as quick as possible to apply for regulars.

Anybody out there who can help?
would be much appreciated

[TroyTempest]

Please see the other OSU threads, there a millions.

I'll merge this in.

[Killicksparker]

Please see the other OSU threads, there a millions.

I'll merge this in.

How many ??

[TroyTempest]

MILLIONS!

[Seppuku]

As well as the weekend the OSU carryout midweek duties that are focused at getting officers to IPS.

These may include specific patrols just for IPS, or operations where officers can also get IPS evidence.

[TuonoV]

Also - it's worth remembering that (van seats depending) you can work with other teams as well as your own, so some people are able to get their IPS quite quickly.

With the OSU (as with most if not all boroughs to be fair), IPS is quite a big thing so all of the regular supervisers are working hard to get people to IPS level.


Regarding IPS - it took me around 8 or 9 months to get it, so if you put the time in and get stuck in, it's not difficult, though of course it's allot easier the more shifts you can work.

[ellisj19]

Thanks guys (:

Is anyone here a SC in the OSU .. what sort of shifts are operated for the specials in the OSU ? is it possible to do a friday night as well as the saturday night per week?

tuonoV are u a special in OSU .. if so which base?

[Fenix]

Also - it's worth remembering that (van seats depending) you can work with other teams as well as your own, so some people are able to get their IPS quite quickly.

With the OSU (as with most if not all boroughs to be fair), IPS is quite a big thing so all of the regular supervisers are working hard to get people to IPS level.


Regarding IPS - it took me around 8 or 9 months to get it, so if you put the time in and get stuck in, it's not difficult, though of course it's allot easier the more shifts you can work.

Welldone on getting your IPS.

I would always suggest to anybody looking to get IPS as quickly as possible that a borough response team is where they should try and go. It's no good going to a borough to the SNT or STT as the chances of you dealing with a domestic or reporting a MISPER will be slim to none.

I would suggest that if you work with a borough response team and do 2 shifts per week you could be IPS in 2 months or so.

[SkinSte]

Is that still true for SOROC? I thought that under SOROC getting IPS doesn't require things like MISPER and Domestics to be completed?

[Seppuku]

Is that still true for SOROC? I thought that under SOROC getting IPS doesn't require things like MISPER and Domestics to be completed?

Thats true, no MISPER's or Domestics needed for SOROC.

[Juliet Sierra]

Thats true, no MISPER's or Domestics needed for SOROC.

Guessing we'll have to do mispers and domestics in the ctc again then

JS

[Fenix]

Thats true, no MISPER's or Domestics needed for SOROC.

In which case I stand corrected and to avoid starting a debate on SOROC/checklist I shall keep my views on that to myself !!

[SkinSte]

Ja, there's plenty of other threads about SOROC vs IPS Checklist ;-) I was just double checking I wasn't mistaken.

My personal view is that I'd rather work on a Borough to enjoy more a variety of policing, including things like Domestics and MISPERs, two things which you are less likely to encounter on the OSU I think. However, other people have no interest in those things (I can underdstand why, I'm not some domestic masochist who calls up for every "shouting heard in background" call) and the OSU certainly seems to have plenty of opportunities for varieties of work and in particular it seems that, by the very nature of the unit, their work is often very proactive, as opposed to a lot of boroughs which seems to be reactive (although this likely depends on who the SCs are utilised on each individual borough).

As ever, horses for courses. Plus if you want L2 PO, it's the only place to get it it would seem. For me, that's a reason not to go there ;-) I'm also not keen on the strict Friday one week, Saturday next as that doesn't sit with my lifestyle. That really is down to personal choice though and is not a bad thing for the OSU, it just means it doesn't suit me.

[Juliet Sierra]

Ja, there's plenty of other threads about SOROC vs IPS Checklist ;-) I was just double checking I wasn't mistaken.

My personal view is that I'd rather work on a Borough to enjoy more a variety of policing, including things like Domestics and MISPERs, two things which you are less likely to encounter on the OSU I think. However, other people have no interest in those things (I can underdstand why, I'm not some domestic masochist who calls up for every "shouting heard in background" call) and the OSU certainly seems to have plenty of opportunities for varieties of work and in particular it seems that, by the very nature of the unit, their work is often very proactive, as opposed to a lot of boroughs which seems to be reactive (although this likely depends on who the SCs are utilised on each individual borough).

As ever, horses for courses. Plus if you want L2 PO, it's the only place to get it it would seem. For me, that's a reason not to go there ;-) I'm also not keen on the strict Friday one week, Saturday next as that doesn't sit with my lifestyle. That really is down to personal choice though and is not a bad thing for the OSU, it just means it doesn't suit me.

As always a smashing reply and I agree with everything you've said. The recruitment model for SC's (23 day course) seems to be built around the PC pathway. But I'll stop there as this is the osu thread.

I prefer boroughs policing for 3 main reasons:
1. You learn your ground inside out,
2. You develop a working knowledge of your borough's priorities and how you fit in when achieving them
3. You develop a relationship with other officers and supervisors who you can call on when your team aren't around.

But!!

I think we all agree that having a pan london unit is essential in tackling large scale issues within boroughs. And having that kind of back up is nothing less than a god send. Especially on my borough where you and your team can get tucked up dealing, you know that the OSU you are still out in the hotspots providing that presence and reassuring the public which wouldn't happen otherwise.

JS

Edited by Juliet Sierra, 20 June 2011 - 10:43 PM.

[moxter]

I've never understood properly the system for "booking" the OSU, but they are the obvious resource for a borough who have a short-term problem which just needs more officers on the ground. Say a recent increase in X Y or Z crime - and the SMT decide they need a unit at shortish notice to tackle it, but don't have a huge overtime budget: no brainer, give TPHQ a call and say "I nee the OSU to take on this particular problem we have". A bit like Blunt. But as I say I'm not really sure if that's how the taskings work...

[FleaHop]

Can anyone tell me if the OSU will let you do weekday, daytime shifts? Just wondering whether to pursue entry into the new Richmond OSU.

[Seppuku]

Can anyone tell me if the OSU will let you do weekday, daytime shifts? Just wondering whether to pursue entry into the new Richmond OSU.

You can do midweek development shifts and operations, but if you can't do the shift pattern of weekend duties then their is no point in joining, as these are expected.

Edited by Seppuku, 20 June 2011 - 05:31 PM.

[roger_that]

I've never understood properly the system for "booking" the OSU, but they are the obvious resource for a borough who have a short-term problem which just needs more officers on the ground. Say a recent increase in X Y or Z crime - and the SMT decide they need a unit at shortish notice to tackle it, but don't have a huge overtime budget: no brainer, give TPHQ a call and say "I nee the OSU to take
on this particular problem we have". A bit like Blunt. But as I say I'm not really sure if that's how the taskings work...

It's not quite as simple as that mate. It's all done through Cato but it would be nice if it were that easy

[Dark_Lord666]

Hi

Anyone currently serving in any of the Pre-Existing OSU's, looking for someone to talk to as i am considering moving from Borough to the New OSU unit opening in the South.

Thanks

Darkie

[Ldugg]

i lad on my course left his borough halfway through training and joined the OSU at Hendon! he said it was quite an easy process to do

[Pebblechimp]

Is the Hendon OSU still taking people? Was going for ID, but really interested in Level 2 trg, but know IPS is harder on OSU....rock...meet hard place...

[RossLondon]

If you can do midweek (evening) deployments, I'd argue IPS can even be easier / quicker to gain on the OSU than some boroughs. Most mid-week deployments are specifically to help officers achieve IPS. The deployments are normally limited to 2-4 officers and you'll go out with a supervisor (PC) and respond to calls / incidents that you need in order to complete IPS. If you can only do weekends, you will probably find it will take longer to achieve IPS on the OSU. This is because the work at the weekend is almost always targeted towards a specific area - e.g. plain clothes drugs, robbery patrols, BLUNT, etc. You'll eventually get there - but it will probably take longer.

But as I say, if you can do midweek evening deployments, you should have no problem reaching IPS well before corporate timescales.

Edited by RossLondon, 30 August 2011 - 09:40 PM.

[TuonoV]

If you can do midweek (evening) deployments, I'd argue IPS can even be easier / quicker to gain on the OSU than some boroughs. Most mid-week deployments are specifically to help officers achieve IPS. The deployments are normally limited to 2-4 officers and you'll go out with a supervisor (PC) and respond to calls / incidents that you need in order to complete IPS. If you can only do weekends, you will probably find it will take longer to achieve IPS on the OSU. This is because the work at the weekend is almost always targeted towards a specific area - e.g. plain clothes drugs, robbery patrols, BLUNT, etc. You'll eventually get there - but it will probably take longer.

But as I say, if you can do midweek evening deployments, you should have no problem reaching IPS well before corporate timescales.

Definitely. One thing that I did like about the OSU is that they won't sign you off IPS just for the sake of increasing the numbers of IPS officers on the unit. They will work very hard to provide you with the support necessary to get it - however there is a quality control in place, and even on Soroc, I can't think of any possibility of someone getting IPS in 1 month for example. However all perfectly possible to do within a reasonable amount of time - arguably I was lucky and in the right place at the right time to get some of the trickier bits of mine (I was on the old IPS system), however I did put the time and effort into making myself available for deployments - usually working once per week.

[SkinSte]

(and doing a shift or two on a Borough )

[TuonoV]

(and doing a shift or two on a Borough )

Indeed - in fact I ticked off both my domestic and harassment with that shift