24 replies to this topic

[RosieWright]

So the title may sound a little obvious!

But i have my uniform fitting next month down in Bicester for Thames Valley Police and i'm wondering what goes on, how long will it take?
Like do you try all the kit on at once or just trousers and the shirt for example and do you get measured up or is there a selection and just the closest one that fits is yours?!

I'm secretly hoping ill be aloud to take a picture as well in some of the uniform before they whisk it back off me until training!

Edited by Cheetah, 31 March 2012 - 10:56 PM.
Font amended for ease

[Vorn189]

The title did sound very obvious

[Million]

You go in, a few measurements are taken, you try on some clothes. You try on some gloves, a hat and a stabbie. The nice lady answers any questions you may have like 'do these come in pink?' etc.

If you take your boots (if you already have some) then they let you put them on to see how the trousers fall on them.

You put it all on together so you get to see yourself in full uniform.

As far as taking a photo I didn't because I didn't want the woman to think I was a tool (fully grown men taking photo's of themselves is a little sad). But I'm sure they wouldn't have any objection

Edited by Million, 31 March 2012 - 10:54 PM.

[Nim]

Erm, you try on all your uniform, to check it fits....!

As to how long it takes, well it depends on how many pairs of trousers/shirts you have to try on before you get the correct size and whether you get to try on dress uniform as well as working uniform. No longer than 20-30 mins usually.

[Jeebs]

You get bits of kit chucked at you and told to try it on, if it fits it gets stuck in a big bag, if it doesn't they chuck a diffrent size at you until it fits.

When I did mine, all be it with NorPol rather than TVPol, the woman said that if who ever dropped me off (assuming it would be a family member) they would be welcome to come in and witness the first time donning police uniform. It was my housemate, who was being paid in beer for the lift, so I left him in the car!

Edited by Jeebs, 01 April 2012 - 12:02 AM.

[Shikari]

Check out my blog (link in my signature). It's got an entry from my uniform fitting for Staffs. I doubt it'll be much different from yours. Either way, don't expect to be there for long.

[WW86]

As Million said, you go in, get to try on all the kit - just operational kit as we do not get issues dress tunics. Your size/ measurements will be jotted down on an issue log sheet (which will eventually accompany your uniform [though generally not all of it at once - I'm still waiting on my new issue fleece after being issued uniform in January] to Sulhamsted). If you have boots, take them with you to see how it all comes together properly.

The real perk of the fitting is being able to choose how your name will be on your name badges for your HiVis and your stabbie; you get a choice of 2 formats, either Joe Bloggs, or J. Bloggs.

As for taking photos of yourself, I never asked so I don't know the answer to that.

Overall, the process shouldn't take more than 1/2 hour.

[Million]

Finding the place is the difficult bit, so damn secretive.

[Adamski]

Finding the place is the difficult bit, so damn secretive.

No it's not! Just poke the third brick along in the 2nd row from the bottom of the wall behind the pub...

[Gladstoneboots]

So the title may sound a little obvious!

But i have my uniform fitting next month down in Bicester for Thames Valley Police and i'm wondering what goes on, how long will it take?
Like do you try all the kit on at once or just trousers and the shirt for example and do you get measured up or is there a selection and just the closest one that fits is yours?!

I'm secretly hoping ill be aloud to take a picture as well in some of the uniform before they whisk it back off me until training!

Aaahh Bless You - Your'e a keeper.

[RosieWright]

Thanks everyone, i'm really excited now!

[smt]

And don't bin the belt keepers. They look like this:

[WW86]

And don't bin the belt keepers. They look like this:

We don't get issued them in TVP

[smt]

We don't get issued them in TVP

I'm not a fan of them personally, but if you like them you can get a pack of 4 from Niton for £5.

http://www.niton999....ch_keepers.html

There's a special offer at the minute for 4 Deluxe (whatever those are) for £10 with free P&P.

http://www.niton999....ode_NPW001.html

[Gladstoneboots]

Can't keep up - must be an age thing !

[Merlin820]

Can't keep up - must be an age thing !

Slightly different thread subject, dear.

[WW86]

I'm not a fan of them personally, but if you like them you can get a pack of 4 from Niton for £5.

http://www.niton999....ch_keepers.html

There's a special offer at the minute for 4 Deluxe (whatever those are) for £10 with free P&P.

http://www.niton999....ode_NPW001.html

I bought some a while ago and disliked them, so they've been relegated to keeping my baton and PAVA holders in their places.

[Waddle]

As Million said, you go in, get to try on all the kit - just operational kit as we do not get issues dress tunics. Your size/ measurements will be jotted down on an issue log sheet (which will eventually accompany your uniform [though generally not all of it at once - I'm still waiting on my new issue fleece after being issued uniform in January] to Sulhamsted). If you have boots, take them with you to see how it all comes together properly.

The real perk of the fitting is being able to choose how your name will be on your name badges for your HiVis and your stabbie; you get a choice of 2 formats, either Joe Bloggs, or J. Bloggs.

As for taking photos of yourself, I never asked so I don't know the answer to that.

Overall, the process shouldn't take more than 1/2 hour.

Name badges????

[Million]

Name badges????

Yeah you know.. Like badges with your name on...

[Waddle]

Yeah you know.. Like badges with your name on...

I wasn't issued with anything like that!

[WW86]

Both our stabbie and hi-vis jackets get our name put on under the force Crest.

[Millhouse]

At my fitting I was told that something fitted when it didn't. He said to me "I've done this for 25 years, it fits". My response "Ive had my body for 27 years, it doesnt fit".

Cue a stores request form for new pants as soon as I started on shift.

[Jeebs]

Couple of people on my intake didnt get issued the right length trousers, hilarity all through training! Other people weren't issued body armour and ended up waiting a few months before they could even go out on the streets!

[Millhouse]

Other people weren't issued body armour and ended up waiting a few months before they could even go out on the streets!

I had that - I was sent "temporary" body armour that barely covered one nipple whilst I waited for my personal issue to be made.

[i-plod]

Couple of people on my intake didn't get issued the right length trousers, hilarity all through training! Other people weren't issued body armor and ended up waiting a few months before they could even go out on the streets!

So true. Quite a few of my friends on the day it arrived had the wrong length trousers & SC was issued a Chiefs flat cap which was pretty funny at the time.

Personally I found that the uniform fitting was very quick and you couldn't take a pic if you wanted as you don't really try it all on at once but maybe trousers then they come off and you put a shirt on etc etc. Good luck!