41 replies to this topic

[very special]

You are appointed to the above post on a temporary basis, tell me what your main priorities would be? What would you do to improve morale and also modernise the service?

[SCtechy]

I think I would push for better training. Under my watch ALL specials would be trained to take half decent statements, basic hand over files and made to have regular law refreshers.

I realise that many specials (well the ones on this forum anyway) will already have the above knowledge and like me will have learned through putting in the hours. However I'm sure we all have specials kicking around our nicks who are simply incompetent, do no hours and if they do show up (usually to village fate or similar) they embarrass the entire special constabulary with their ineptness.

My stance would be - we should never replace regular officers BUT as holders of the office of constable we owe it to ourselves and the public we serve to be as competent as possible.

[Lucas North]

What would you do to improve morale and also modernise the service?

Pay them.

[Giraffe]

I'd run a 'get yer toothbrush' campaign, rounding up all of our wanted nominals and taking a zero tolerance approach to all forms of criminality when out on duty. I would improve the image of the Special Constabulary so that criminals would actually fear us (maybe it would require some time, but it's achievable).

[little old me]

specials training to include 2 shifts with regulars so they can put all of the training together and see it in use with somebody that knows they could slip up just to get the first arrest and first experience out of the way before they go on division.

Better radio training, more how to say rather than what to say. e.g how to start a radio conversation rather than just being told to keep it brief and accurate.

[Sam_McCully]

Start a forum topic asking if I out rank the Regular Assistant Chief Cons?

Joking aside, as said before, better training and try to get more chances for Specials to do training courses - assuming they put the hours in and have the knowledge

Sam

[TroyTempest]

Get a proper mission statement of what we're here to do, specifically designed to up our game, not just "support the regulars" which could mean doing as little as possible. Define an ongoing training plan to meet the needs of officers to develop them towards some goals, inline with the mission statement, get buy in from senior management and fund it. Change initial training to ensure that people have their attitudes set properly from the outset, there's crime going on over there, you need to deal with it rather than walk by on the other side of the road having not seen it because you lack the confidence to deal with it. Have a think about how to ensure contact continues with officers and mechanisms to avoid skill fade, skills fade, confidence drops, you lose interest, your skills fade further, etc, etc, how to break that viscious cycle (I've seen time and time again). A major plus point about the Special Constabulary it's one of those occupations that can fit in with your life, and the organisation is richer for it attracting people who can't do shifts on a specific rota. Ensure that at a high enough level the deployment opportunities are sanctioned and issued as orders. That means that regular teams cannot sideline Specials because they don't like them, or don't think they can find the time to develop and deploy them. Ensure that role profiles for regular positions like Inspectors, Chief Inspectors, Superintendents and Chief Superintendents have a "how to make effective use and deployment of your volunteers" included in them.

How's that for a starter for 10?

[Killicksparker]

Get a proper mission statement of what we're here to do, specifically designed to up our game, not just "support the regulars" which could mean doing as little as possible. Define an ongoing training plan to meet the needs of officers to develop them towards some goals, inline with the mission statement, get buy in from senior management and fund it. Change initial training to ensure that people have their attitudes set properly from the outset, there's crime going on over there, you need to deal with it rather than walk by on the other side of the road having not seen it because you lack the confidence to deal with it. Have a think about how to ensure contact continues with officers and mechanisms to avoid skill fade, skills fade, confidence drops, you lose interest, your skills fade further, etc, etc, how to break that viscious cycle (I've seen time and time again). A major plus point about the Special Constabulary it's one of those occupations that can fit in with your life, and the organisation is richer for it attracting people who can't do shifts on a specific rota. Ensure that at a high enough level the deployment opportunities are sanctioned and issued as orders. That means that regular teams cannot sideline Specials because they don't like them, or don't think they can find the time to develop and deploy them. Ensure that role profiles for regular positions like Inspectors, Chief Inspectors, Superintendents and Chief Superintendents have a "how to make effective use and deployment of your volunteers" included in them.

How's that for a starter for 10?

And on your second day ??

[TroyTempest]

Well the first question would be, whats the job f a specials chief officer? And is any of the above in his or her remit.

[General Purpose]

Officers that do more hours get more training and more chance to work in other departments (traffic, DSU, CID, etc) and therefore become an been more valuable resource. Officers that just out in the basic 16 get very basic training as they won't be dealing with complicated jobs with out the assistance of a regular officer where as officers who put in more hours can, if they wish, take on a work load, oic, etc...

[Special Dibble]

Scrap SC rank then sack myself

[MacGregor]

I'd be looking to see where they keep those really fancy biscuits dished out at important meetings and requisition myself a pallet full.

[Chewie]

I'd forgo the traditional 4-bar pattern and restyle my epaulettes to my own design...

Edited by Chewie, 26 May 2012 - 04:49 PM.

[Burnie]

I'd forgo the traditional 4-bar pattern and restyle my epaulettes to my own design...

Collar number W00-K13??

[Chewie]

Collar number W00-K13??

Oh, I could do better than that - I'd chuck a crown and whatever else I can find on there^*, too...



^* Not that I'm suggesting anyone would do this in real-life, of course. Absolutely not.

Edited by Chewie, 26 May 2012 - 06:01 PM.

[Rocket]

Personally, I would put a hold on the current frantic recruitment and take care of the Specials already in my force instead of the huge (and failing) recruitment campaign to get the numbers up to unrealistic and unachievable levels.

I would actually talk to the SCs I already had and ask them why so many of them are now handing in their warrant cards and what I could do to improve retention and get them to stay and tutor/assist new intakes when I felt we were able to actually improve the strength of the Special Constabulary.

[Sam Vimes]

I'd train Specials up to be able to complete a basic file and take a decent statement.... Nothing more annoying that a Special sat there tapping their fingers on the desk while you do the file or take two statements one after another. I long for the day a Special says to me "Want me to do your MG5/MG6/Handover while you do your arrest statement?"

[Police Constable 1]

I'd train Specials up to be able to complete a basic file and take a decent statement.... Nothing more annoying that a Special sat there tapping their fingers on the desk while you do the file or take two statements one after another. I long for the day a Special says to me "Want me to do your MG5/MG6/Handover while you do your arrest statement?"

Perhaps you should change forces, I know of many competent Specials and even PCSO's capable of doing statements and files,

Edited by Police Constable 1, 26 May 2012 - 07:33 PM.

[very special]

I'd train Specials up to be able to complete a basic file and take a decent statement.... Nothing more annoying that a Special sat there tapping their fingers on the desk while you do the file or take two statements one after another. I long for the day a Special says to me "Want me to do your MG5/MG6/Handover while you do your arrest statement?"

I am guessing your a regular with a chip on his shoulder? Lots of Specials are capable of putting good files together, if you are a regular you get paid.

[Sam Vimes]

Perhaps you should change forces, I know of many competent Specials and even PCSO's capable of doing statements and files,

Or perhaps the ones in the force I work for should up their game?

I am guessing your a regular with a chip on his shoulder? Lots of Specials are capable of putting good files together, if you are a regular you get paid.

Who said I have a chip? I'm sure lots of Specials are capable of it, but lots of them aren't, and I can only speak as I find. And seeing as its a point raised by other posters in the past I'd suggest it's more widespread than just my little corner of E&W!

[support]

I think I would push for better training. Under my watch ALL specials would be trained to take half decent statements, basic hand over files and made to have regular law refreshers.

I realise that many specials (well the ones on this forum anyway) will already have the above knowledge and like me will have learned through putting in the hours. However I'm sure we all have specials kicking around our nicks who are simply incompetent, do no hours and if they do show up (usually to village fate or similar) they embarrass the entire special constabulary with their ineptness.

My stance would be - we should never replace regular officers BUT as holders of the office of constable we owe it to ourselves and the public we serve to be as competent as possible.

I know and deal with regulars who are in competent and I wonder why they are not removed ?

[General Purpose]

With regards to statements we have to do 3 in training and they have to pass, attend training sessions on area and do another 2 followed by Golden hour training which entails another statement about the incident then to be signed independent you gave to do 3 real life ones....

[victor-bravoHQ]

Or perhaps the ones in the force I work for should up their game?



Who said I have a chip? I'm sure lots of Specials are capable of it, but lots of them aren't, and I can only speak as I find. And seeing as its a point raised by other posters in the past I'd suggest it's more widespread than just my little corner of E&W!

You don't have a chip on your should - what you say though is completely true. I was with a PC who I sat with whilst he did 2 statements. I felt frustrated and learnt how to take statements. Best memory I have is us being together and 2 statements need taking. I did one and he did the other and the smile he had when I said I'd takeone was huge!

In my opinion too many SCs are happy with where they are and don't want to develop. There is generally no follow up training on IPS stuff like how to do breath tests. I was speaking to a SC recently who had a drink drive case thrown out as he didn't do the road side bit properly. When asking her when she last looked at how to do the procedure her reply was 2 years ago. This is sloppy. What also annoys me is we have some officers in police vehicles/foot/bike out on there own who can be stopped by the public to deal with serious incident for example a serious assault and they won't know what to do initially before help arrives.

Ok, a fair few SCs will be able to do this but I make no apologies for being contraversial. We are put in positions, generally though no fault of our own, that we cannot deal with. This is generally to save money. It gets pitched as SC development and expanding oppertunities...but sometimes it doesn't cut to the mustard.

SC training takes place and should be compulsary. What training there is generally poorly attended. Another issue I feel needs addressing is the leadership/command chain. Promotions have started to be given after promotion boards but we still have a lot of people holding rank thay have no clue. Ask them what a S18 is and they probably won't be able to tell you. Too many manage as oppossed to lead - and it does show when at events. We also seem to have no way of identifying future leaders.

What I think is needed is a complete overhaul of how we do stuff. However, I know that we have 41 forces and 41 ways of doing things. I am probably too harsh as there are excellent officers and ranked officers. As said, I'm probably being contraversial here but I make no apologies for it. We can start by cutting all those that don't do the 16hrs per month without valid excuse.

[General Purpose]

I think most forces now have adopted the IL4SC scheme which involves 6 months training (one evening per week) and every other weekend with 5 exams baring OST. Looks like a development from 3 months with little input

[victor-bravoHQ]

I think most forces now have adopted the IL4SC scheme which involves 6 months training (one evening per week) and every other weekend with 5 exams baring OST. Looks like a development from 3 months with little input

Good point. I didnt do this but from what I've seen of it, it is good at teaching the basics and ensuring competence. However I've seen a lot of issues with the implementation which has seen many officers leave and I think this is very much down to each individual force.