62 replies to this topic

[The Constable]

So PSD , DPS , CIB ......whatever they call it in your force....

What exactly do they do? I know the basic "Keeping up professional standards". But what kind of activities and duties (if they do any duties) do they do? And what kind of powers do they have?

I do happen to know that most PSD staff are Police Officers but do Specials have opportunities to work with them?

[Chewie]

So PSD , DPS , CIB ......whatever they call it in your force....

What exactly do they do?

I do happen to know that most PSD staff are Police Officers but do Specials have opportunities to work with them?

You may occasionally be invited to help them with their work... but not in the way you mean...

[Jeebs]

Have you not had the secret breifing yet?

Remember we're the eyes and ears of PSD!

In all seriousness, I have no idea what they do and dont really want/plan to find out any time during my time as a Special or PC (eventually). I know a Sgt. that used to work in the ghosts, he is genuinely one of the nicest people Ive met through the Police and I was shocked to find out what he did before he came back to shift, then again, thats probably how they get you!!

Edited by Jeebs, 11 June 2012 - 10:10 PM.

[Markdn]

It may be force specific as to what staff make up PSD (name is also force specific as you have already identified), but in Surrey there are police staff (investigators) as well as Police officers.

In terms of what they do I personally see similarities to an internal audit department of a large company, i.e. they ensure the organisation is compliant with policies/procedures/standards.

They do a lot of investigation, hence why the Police officer role is very important.

I have personally worked with PSD and it was certainly eye opening. I think a number of people fear PSD, but having worked with them I can say I don't. I am pleased how helpful they are and they are always on the end of the phone if I need to discuss issues that arise.

There are a lot of myths out there about PSD, try not to believe them! The biggest one being they have a super duper admin super account into Facebook so they can monitor what officers put up on their pages - Rubbish! Most complaints around officers conduct on Facebook come from friends of that officer who contact PSD and those friends supplying screen dumps and statements detailing the offensive behavior.

[Derf]

Our PSD have been renamed the 'Anit-corruption Unit' not entirely sure a change for the better...

[The Constable]

It may be force specific as to what staff make up PSD (name is also force specific as you have already identified), but in Surrey there are police staff (investigators) as well as Police officers.

In terms of what they do I personally see similarities to an internal audit department of a large company, i.e. they ensure the organisation is compliant with policies/procedures/standards.

They do a lot of investigation, hence why the Police officer role is very important.

I have personally worked with PSD and it was certainly eye opening. I think a number of people fear PSD, but having worked with them I can say I don't. I am pleased how helpful they are and they are always on the end of the phone if I need to discuss issues that arise.

There are a lot of myths out there about PSD, try not to believe them! The biggest one being they have a super duper admin super account into Facebook so they can monitor what officers put up on their pages - Rubbish! Most complaints around officers conduct on Facebook come from friends of that officer who contact PSD and those friends supplying screen dumps and statements detailing the offensive behavior.

Thank you very much

Even I'm scared of DPS! And I'm just a Specials Applicant.

What kind of stuff did you do when you worked with PSD? The only image I have of PSD (CIB rather) is from The Bill.....which is often exaggerated and inaccurate.

Have you not had the secret breifing yet?

Remember we're the eyes and ears of PSD!

In all seriousness, I have no idea what they do and dont really want/plan to find out any time during my time as a Special or PC (eventually). I know a Sgt. that used to work in the ghosts, he is genuinely one of the nicest people Ive met through the Police and I was shocked to find out what he did before he came back to shift, then again, thats probably how they get you!!

The Lady off The Bill was a seemingly nice happy officer.......she turned out to be PSD

You may occasionally be invited to help them with their work... but not in the way you mean...

*awaits secret invite *

[Jeebs]

The DWP, DSS and HMRC have a department much worse than the Ghosts, "Internal Compliance". They stalk the corridors of government buildings at night looking for data security breaches and the like, then they send the heavies in the morning to cart you off along with your computer and contents of your desk draws!

Having spoken to the aforementioned Sgt. PSD are there to protect you from yourself and malicious complaints as much as they are there to screw you over and ruin your career if needs must.

Edited by Jeebs, 11 June 2012 - 10:30 PM.

[Derf]

I've done a bit of training on the subject of dicipline proceedures. To be honest, the guys from PSD ( now ACU) were quite pleasant chaps as was the fed rep that also delivered the training. PSD likened their role to an arrest. We don't arrest because someone's guilty, we arrest on suspicion and to facilitate an investigation. If an allegation is made against an MOP, we are duty bound to investigate it and (sometimes) make an arrest.
If someone makes an allegation against a police officer of whatever severity, they are duty bound to investigate, the notification of investigation (regulation 14) is effectively the equivilent of an arrest. they are not saying you are guilty, they are saying they need to ask some questions about a few things.

Keep your nose clean and you'll be OK. A high percentage of complaints received by PSD never get as far as a reg 14 and are batted back by PSD for a local resolution (for the station Inspector or Sgt to resolve how they see fit).

[Markdn]

Thank you very much

Even I'm scared of DPS! And I'm just a Specials Applicant.

What kind of stuff did you do when you worked with PSD? The only image I have of PSD (CIB rather) is from The Bill.....which is often exaggerated and inaccurate.

I have worked with them on 2 cases that involved SC's and have sat on gross misconduct board. This gave me an insight in how they carry out investigations and the work they do.

We are also lucky that with have regular inputs from PSD on training days. It certainly enhances their profile in the Force and goes someway to dispel myths.

[Kilo Sierra]

I have had to speak with them about some issues, which arose on some duties. This was not massively uncomfortable as i wasn't the one on the firing line...though when i had to explain something about what i had done, i was more annoyed that a crim had made a complaint and the operator hadn't immediately hung up on him (obviously not what they should do, all complaints should be reviewed).

They are just normal folks, some are bobbies, some are civilian investigators. As long as you can HONESTLY justify your behaviours and have followed policy, then you are safe.

PSD is usually HQ based and has covert and overt functions. They submit the occasional bit of evidence to the lab, mainly over allegations of theft etc. So really, they are just Police investigators like anuone else....they just investigate us.

Enjoy and remember, if you have to think about it, it is probabaly not going to stand up to scruntiny.

J

[The Constable]

I've done a bit of training on the subject of dicipline proceedures. To be honest, the guys from PSD ( now ACU) were quite pleasant chaps as was the fed rep that also delivered the training. PSD likened their role to an arrest. We don't arrest because someone's guilty, we arrest on suspicion and to facilitate an investigation. If an allegation is made against an MOP, we are duty bound to investigate it and (sometimes) make an arrest.
If someone makes an allegation against a police officer of whatever severity, they are duty bound to investigate, the notification of investigation (regulation 14) is effectively the equivilent of an arrest. they are not saying you are guilty, they are saying they need to ask some questions about a few things.

Keep your nose clean and you'll be OK. A high percentage of complaints received by PSD never get as far as a reg 14 and are batted back by PSD for a local resolution (for the station Inspector or Sgt to resolve how they see fit).

Where can one see these procedures and regulations?

[Sceptre]

Where can one see these procedures and regulations?

One operates Google: link

[Derf]

You'll only encouter PSD if you fall outside of one of the 10 standards of professional behaviour -These should be taught to every officer during training (or during ongoing development if you joined prior to 2009) It's all in the public domain, and a national standard. If you Google something like 'police standards of professional behaviour', 'police regulation 14' or 'police misconduct procedure' you'll find most of what you need

As a side note, I'd recommend everyone digests no. 10 on the list.

Edited by Derf, 11 June 2012 - 11:08 PM.

[The Constable]

You'll only encouter PSD if you fall outside of one of the 10 standards of professional behaviour -These should be taught to every officer during training (or during ongoing development if you joined prior to 2009) It's all in the public domain, and a national standard. If you Google something like 'police standards of professional behaviour', 'police regulation 14' or 'police misconduct procedure' you'll find most of what you need

As a side note, I'd recommend everyone digests no. 10 on the list.

Thanks By the way.....what are these 10 professional standards?

The DWP, DSS and HMRC have a department much worse than the Ghosts, "Internal Compliance". They stalk the corridors of government buildings at night looking for data security breaches and the like, then they send the heavies in the morning to cart you off along with your computer and contents of your desk draws!

Having spoken to the aforementioned Sgt. PSD are there to protect you from yourself and malicious complaints as much as they are there to screw you over and ruin your career if needs must.

LOL true .....about "Internal Compliance". How I imagined it

As for PSD ....... I suppose this is true

[Derf]

Answered here;

If you Google something like 'police standards of professional behaviour',

[Javioli]

... and I thought this was going to be a discussion about an Adobe Photoshop Document.

[bensonby]

Why are people scared of the Property Services Department?!

[BigCopSmallTown]

I've had a couple of dealings with Prof Standards and they do their job brilliantly. If we stay in the right then we have nothing to fear. if you make an honest mistake and admit it then it can be dealt with, if you lie, are dishonest, break the law then they will have you. I found the process of dealing with PS stressful and worring because of the fear of being wrongly convicted of something (A'la Michael Bunting) but the truth outs in the end.

[Burnie]

I have found my PSD thoroughly helpful when I had a couple of (linked) issues that I thought could come and bite me in the backside.

[CmdKeen]

Fife had (has?) a scheme of booting HQ dwelling officers out a couple of times a year to go on a uniformed, targeted (allegedly), anti ASB operation. Basically a way for an extra 10 ish officers every Friday and Saturday evening. Unsurprisingly they liked having specials on board as well - often to provide the local area knowledge.

One night we were out with an Inspector from PSD, who was very pleasant although there was a little less banter during the meal break. We put on a stop point and one of the cars we stopped contained a less than plussed driver. He was spouting off about how he was going to complain about our holding him up. He was a little surprised when the Inspector bimbled over and said she'd more than happy to take his complaint, but was pretty confident of being in the right...

So you may not get to work with PSD, but PSD may come and work with you!

[TroyTempest]

Sadly, my views on the professional standards chaps are at the total opposite end of the spectrum.

I dare not explain why as no doubt I'm guilty of some sort of policy breach somewhere in my career that may see me retrospectively hounded out of the job.

Someone I know is taking them to employment tribunal and I wait with interest to see how that pans out.

[bensonby]

a chap from my old team has just gone to work for the DPS.... the banter just as he was leaving was brilliant. I ended up tossing him my warrant card saying "you might as well just take it now mate"

At the end of the day they are police officers and understand the role and have been there and done it. They are your friends and are not there to trip you up: if you have done nothing wrong then tell the truth and you have nothing to fear. If you have done something wrong then own up to it at the first opportunity and do not lie.... A good mate of mine lost some prisoners property: he was searching him and popped his bits in an evidence bag on the top of the car - he then drove off with them still on the roof. When he got back to custody he realised what he'd done and immediately told the custody sergeant. He also asked me and another officer to go and look for the property. The opening line of the custody record was something like "Officer has informed me he's accidently lost the DP's property".

Naturally the bloke complained but because it was a genuine error, and my mate had taken all reasonable steps to rectify it and had immediately told his superior the DPS were very sympathetic and my mate suffered no ill-consequences.

I dare not explain why as no doubt I'm guilty of some sort of policy breach somewhere in my career that may see me retrospectively hounded out of the job.

yes mate, I've already got a file prepared on you - just in case like....

[crunchybits]

I certainly would not regard DPS as 'friends'. They are there to uphold professional standards against the Standard Operating Procedure's. In a job with 30,000 plus officers recruited from the general public there are unfortunately a very few officers in role when they shouldn't be there. That tiny minority make the job harder for all the thousands doing the job very well in an increasingly challenging environment.

What I find difficult to understand is that when dealing with blatantly false and probably malicious allegations the Service seem extremely reluctant to prosecute. I have had the unfortunate experience of dealing with scenario where the corruption allegation against the officer was a blatant lie. The Service invested a fortune investigating a complaint that was malicious from the outset and yet that allegation is still recorded on the officer's file.

Edited by crunchybits, 12 June 2012 - 11:31 AM.

[Derf]

yet that allegation is still recorded on the officer's file.

Goes on a PSD file only available to PSD department, NOT his personal file. It won't be disclosed to any other police department / personel or in any reference to future employers, or be used against him in any promotion interviews or future misconduct investigations.

I'd suggest the only people who know anything about it, or will in future, are the ones that officer tells.


If I refer you back to the PSD investigation / arrest anaolgy, people make accusations against other people and we arrest them, we don't go around prosecuting the victims everytime an offender is NFA'd.

Edited by Derf, 12 June 2012 - 11:43 AM.

[bensonby]

I certainly would not regard DPS as 'friends'.

I think that are are "friends" in the way that the police are "friends" to the law-abiding general public. Professionl standards departments help maintain the confidence in and dignity of the role by weeding out the bad apples. I genuinely believe that the honest officer has nothing to fear from them. Further to this they are also very helpful with providing advice and guidance.