I've nothing really to add other than my previous concerns about BTP.
The individual officers on the teams are marvellous, but beyond that, I've seen no visible evidence that the Force seriously wishes to tap the resources that the Special Constabulary provides.
I've mentioned elsewhere that the BTP are at a crossroads, as I see it; either they fully embrace us (and that includes appointing dedicated resource to co-ordinate and monitor us), or they should just do away the Specials altogether. This half-way house where we're neither here nor there is not working for anyone.
In addition, I personally don't appreciate being on the receiving end of poor administration and contradictory information from the very few people in middle management of the BTP that even bother to interface with us.
On London South, Waterloo station has all but closed, but no-one bothered to email or write to the Specials to tell them what date that this was happening, in order for people to get their lockers and personal trays packed away. I was fortunate enough to be on a shift shortly before the move, but if I hadn't have been, I'd have been none the wiser, and all of my stuff would have been lying around in a box for days on end, provided that people didn't help themselves to my uniform in the meantime (which has been the unfortunate case for a couple of my mates on area).
Thinking of leaving? No, not yet.
But until the Force make up their mind about what they want to do with us, and bother to respond to the constructive feedback that many of us have consistently provided to senior officers, then it's almost inevitable that I'll end up elsewhere, probably City of London.
Especially when I'm genuinely amazed at how seriously CoLP take the Specials and the depth and breadth of activities that they allow them to lead on.
Anyone thinking of leaving BTP?
Started by
beemac
, Mar 15 2005 06:22 PM
29 replies to this topic
#27
biker.r1
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Posted 29 March 2005 - 06:45 PM
Well Karma, I was booked on a late shift on the Friday after they moved - I dutifully turned up at Waterloo to find it somewhat empty and lacking fellow Officers!! I made a phone call and was told 'it's one of those things' that I hadn't been advised and that they had moved a couple nights earlier!! Decided not to take it any further but I was fuming to say the least.
My locker had been opened and emptied with some of my kit being placed in my kit bag, minus my stabbie, maglite, personal pocket note book holder that was on my kit belt which had been undone and removed!!
No airwave radios were readily available at Ebury Bridge so I was given a old analogue one whose battery promptly died within a couple minutes.
I want to scream sometimes and am seriously wondering why I'm putting up with it !!
I understand from a posting on www.btpspecials.org that the ACC Ops is supposed to be contacting all Specials to get their views, that was some time ago and I haven't received anything yet.
A very frustrated R1.
My locker had been opened and emptied with some of my kit being placed in my kit bag, minus my stabbie, maglite, personal pocket note book holder that was on my kit belt which had been undone and removed!!
No airwave radios were readily available at Ebury Bridge so I was given a old analogue one whose battery promptly died within a couple minutes.
I want to scream sometimes and am seriously wondering why I'm putting up with it !!
I understand from a posting on www.btpspecials.org that the ACC Ops is supposed to be contacting all Specials to get their views, that was some time ago and I haven't received anything yet.
A very frustrated R1.
Edited by biker.r1, 29 March 2005 - 06:47 PM.
#28
Posted 29 March 2005 - 06:59 PM
Karma,
I can thoroughly recommend the CLSC / City Police Specials as i was one for some 5 years before going over to BTP Specials at LH.
No other Force allows a Special to be the first defence of a truck bomb ( yeh i know they got two through, but i wasn"t on that day), at an entry point into the City single handed.
Have to say though that i"ve enjoyed both CP and BTP Specials in the City allthough the City had the edge as they have more scope and there was allways a job to be had out of McD"s / Hamiltons on Liverpool St. with a good body and a nice handover to BTP.
Nice to be back on the mainline now though.
I can thoroughly recommend the CLSC / City Police Specials as i was one for some 5 years before going over to BTP Specials at LH.
No other Force allows a Special to be the first defence of a truck bomb ( yeh i know they got two through, but i wasn"t on that day), at an entry point into the City single handed.
Have to say though that i"ve enjoyed both CP and BTP Specials in the City allthough the City had the edge as they have more scope and there was allways a job to be had out of McD"s / Hamiltons on Liverpool St. with a good body and a nice handover to BTP.
Nice to be back on the mainline now though.
#29
Posted 30 March 2005 - 07:37 AM
I was booked on a late shift on the Friday after they moved - I dutifully turned up at Waterloo to find it somewhat empty and lacking fellow Officers!!
If it was not indicative of wider things then it would be funny. Imagining turning up at the police station to do a shift only to find everyone had moved and not bothered to tell you.?
#30
biker.r1
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Posted 30 March 2005 - 09:27 AM
If it was not indicative of wider things then it would be funny. Imagining turning up at the police station to do a shift only to find everyone had moved and not bothered to tell you.?
...it wasn't as if I hadn't been in contact regarding my next shift - I'd confirmed the shift a couple weeks previously so they knew I was coming in that afternoon.
Never mind it's all part of the (uphill, ok very steep uphill) challenge lol
