9 replies to this topic

[CovPlod]

All,

I know some LPU's have already been through continuous improvement and we're going through it in Jan..... looking forward to that (hmmmm). I've been told I'm staying put but there are a few people on the shift who have been binned off to other teams/roles etc etc. Personally I'm happy with what I'm doing so I feel pretty lucky to be staying put (it's what I wanted too)

Is it having any impact on specials?, obviously with the shift numbers dropping (I think to 29 on paper) are you still going to be aligned to us because I think the more hands the better with the lower numbers?. Hopefully 'the shift' wont be the people who seem to pick up everything from everywhere when the change comes because we cant keep doing that with fewer numbers because nearly everything seems to fall down to response to deal with at the minute meaning we're snowed under.

Anyone got any thoughts on it all?... also positive/negative as I'm aware there are LPU's that have already gone through it all.

CP

[danny b]

All,

I know some LPU's have already been through continuous improvement and we're going through it in Jan..... looking forward to that (hmmmm). I've been told I'm staying put but there are a few people on the shift who have been binned off to other teams/roles etc etc. Personally I'm happy with what I'm doing so I feel pretty lucky to be staying put (it's what I wanted too)

Is it having any impact on specials?, obviously with the shift numbers dropping (I think to 29 on paper) are you still going to be aligned to us because I think the more hands the better with the lower numbers?. Hopefully 'the shift' wont be the people who seem to pick up everything from everywhere when the change comes because we cant keep doing that with fewer numbers because nearly everything seems to fall down to response to deal with at the minute meaning we're snowed under.

Anyone got any thoughts on it all?... also positive/negative as I'm aware there are LPU's that have already gone through it all.

CP

Hi CovPlod,

I am on the Bham South and we were the pilot LPU along with Solihull. Have you had your Cont. Improvement input yet? If you have you will know about the introduction of Community Priority Teams. All Specials on the Bham South were alligned to these as they are basically a pool of officers that are used for abstractions leaving the response and NHT bobbies ringfenced from being abstracted to football etc.

For Specials this is great because it gives us opportunities to get involved in everything from ANPR to drug warrants in the day. In reality though most officers who work in the week only come in on a Friday/Saturday night so its difficult to get involved in daytime stuff. On a weekend we are pretty much left to our own devices and we are tasked to focus on the constituency priorities set out on Corvus. Most weekends we put a van out as well as officers on bike/foot and look to make an impact. The feedback from the CATO department has been excellent and we have been seen as an integral part in reducing crime in areas we cover.

Being CPT we also backfill the response teams when needed and this has given some officers with a lower set of experiences the chance to see and work on NST. One of the main benefits I have seen is the allocation of Buddy officers. These are regulars on the CPT who will be assigned to a Special and be there to either work with or offer advise. These have been massively beneficial to new Specials who are looking to get their SOLAPs signed off. I have been very impressed by the way the reg officers have taken to the Buddy structure as I was really sceptical myself.

All in all I think it is better than the OCU system but it does have its negatives. CPT officers and subsequently Special Officers seem to be stitched with constant watches and also have to man the appointments cars. Appointments are a fantastic idea as long as the system isnt abused by officers batting jobs to other teams. Sometimes the jobs officers on CPT attend are ridiculous and could be dealt with in the first instance.

I like the freedom we have on CPT though to go and support other teams. Quite a few times we have organised officers to support the Offender Management Team and go out and try and execute as many Fail to Appear Warrants as possible. CPT also get the freedom to go actually police and hunt for criminals when a hotspot is identified which the shift dont get to do anymore.

Edited by danny b, 10 November 2011 - 08:39 PM.

[CovPlod]

Lovely, thanks for that... sounds pretty positive then.

I've not had the input yet but I think we're due it on a training day in the near future (another theft of rest day!!).

[candles]

Ideally, I would like to be seen as a flexible resource for OCU - It looks as though it is finally going to happen with the introduction of this initiative. Each Special is different in what time they can dedicate, when they can dedicate and what they want out of being a volunteer - However, that shouldn't detract from the need of the OCU to achieve objectives. I think this is finally being recognised, at least in CovLand.

So I would hope that I personally can still do what I am doing and joining you, CovPlod, and help bolster numbers on the shift. I also generally volunteer for most "special" events through out the year. In CovLand it hasn't been completely communicated down to us exactly what is planned for the SCs, but looking at what danny b has posted, this does sound pretty positive. At the end of the day, we do have some (not a lot, but a little) leeway into making the job work for us - If an individual actually makes the effort, as opportunities do not leap out and land in our laps. That being said, we in Cov have been amazingly lucky with the amount of support we have had from Regular officers and Supervision. I, for one, am very grateful for this and I know a number of other specials are also...

[Paulos86]

From the training we got at the weekend it seems that we will be aligned with the new CAPT teams that they have introduced. It sounds exactly the same as what danny b has said what they do in birmingham south. I believe the CAPT team will be divded into North and South. North being based out of Foleshill and South out of Central. I think it will give us some good opportunities to do different things. They have also said that the CAPT team will be used for back filling any spaces in other teams such as response and Neighbourhood. It's due to be rolled out on the 16th Jan.

[candles]

From the training we got at the weekend it seems that we will be aligned with the new CAPT teams that they have introduced. It sounds exactly the same as what danny b has said what they do in birmingham south. I believe the CAPT team will be divded into North and South. North being based out of Foleshill and South out of Central. I think it will give us some good opportunities to do different things. They have also said that the CAPT team will be used for back filling any spaces in other teams such as response and Neighbourhood. It's due to be rolled out on the 16th Jan.

Ahhh, you were on that training - I've got mine next week - That is how I understood it would operate, but as ever, I expect it will be changed/tweaked/etc by supervision/SMT/SCs as time goes by... But thankfully, there seems to be a degree of flexibility already built in??

[Paulos86]

From the training we got at the weekend it seems that we will be aligned with the new CAPT teams that they have introduced. It sounds exactly the same as what danny b has said what they do in birmingham south. I believe the CAPT team will be divded into North and South. North being based out of Foleshill and South out of Central. I think it will give us some good opportunities to do different things. They have also said that the CAPT team will be used for back filling any spaces in other teams such as response and Neighbourhood. It's due to be rolled out on the 16th Jan.

It does sound like there is going to be a lot of flexibility, chief inspector blakeman was there and was saying that you can all still do what your doing now, like a van shift in earlsdon or in the town at the weekend, or if you want to do response. So im guessing we will see what happens.

[candles]

It does sound like there is going to be a lot of flexibility, chief inspector blakeman was there and was saying that you can all still do what your doing now, like a van shift in earlsdon or in the town at the weekend, or if you want to do response. So im guessing we will see what happens.

Oh ok doke - Hope Mr Blakeman will be there next week too... It sounds very flexible then - That is good news - The Supervision and SMT clearly have seen the benefits of relaxing the idea of focusing the entire SC contigent onto one common goal. I would like to see more comms from SMT/Supervision that started about 6 months ago, but has gone a bit quiet over the last few months - But there has been a lot going on of late, so I hope it will pick up again soon, this input seems to suggest so...

[danny b]

On BS CAPT or whatever they have decided it is now (was CPT on us and CAT on Solihull now its CAPT) is based upon council constituency borders.
So there is Edgebaston, Selly Oak and Northfield constituencies each with 3 shifts of CAPT.
Also, it vital that there is good quality comms with your SO's. They need to feedback who is planning on coming on duty at the weekend otherwise nothing gets orgainised properly. From what others have put on here, looks like the link with special supervision at cov is dire.

[candles]

To be completely honest with you danny b - I would prefer the quality comms with whoever is actually organising whatever is being organised - Putting another person in the communication chain only serves to lengthen the communication chain. If the SO/DO is doing the organisation then that should be the person who should be initiating the communication.

I understand that there is a need for a line management, but for operational notification and planning there is no need to have extensive line management communication chains for the sake of it. Obviously, line management need to be informed/consulted by regular supervision if regular supervision are organising activities... CV has been improving things and is actually seeing lots of improvements.

At the end of the day, SO/DOs are volunteers too it seems that they are quick to be overloaded with unnecessary protocol.

I wouldn't say that the link with specials supervision is dire, but it could potentially be improved, which it is.