[Minerva]

While doing some research on the net I see that Strathclyd police have issued new warrant cards to their officers, the card instructs a person to call the number on the card to check the officers identity? Is this right? ALSO I would find it a lot easier if evey police officer in this country had the same warrant card (well not the exact same one because it'd be a job sharing it.....) But a white plastic card in a black wallet with a force badge on one side would aid identification.... Several times in the course of my duty I've been faced with some scruffy git waving a bit of dog-eared paper that looks like it was knocked up on paint..... Oh well moan over lol keep up the good work :twisted: :twisted:

[Carl]

I concur with your sentiments. A standard format of Warrant Card would obviously be beneficial in some respects, not least IDing by colleagues, but perhaps too easy for Felons to copy & assume commensurate powers?

Regards,

Carl

[Minerva]

Just take a look at the Met website and there you'll find a very nice image of a warrant card that would be easy to copy... When you've shown your ID how many people have actually read it because short of the day i was given mine I don't think anyone has read it (thank god that photo is a BAD hair day)... And then we come to the fact how many people actually know what a police warrant card looks like?

[Carl]

I appreaciate each point you mentioned, but the present situation means you might have the possibility of tripping people up with copied MPS cards trying to pass themselves off in the counties. Whereas a single card would not provide the slightest possibility of discovery through simple questioning. I wouldn't know what various different counties cards looked like bar one or two of them.

In addition, there are also other forms of warrant such as those carried by TSO's & Customs etc. Having a non standard one does make copying wholesale harder.

I can see the pluses & the minuses to such an effort. Though a flimsy scrap of paper should not be acceptable, it should be accompanid by a card holder with crest (but then thats all the Met had until about 10 years ago!).

Regards,

Carl

[Minerva]

Many forces don't issue card holders eventhough they're a fairly cheap bit of kit.... Friends have had me (ahem) "aquire" ones for them....


Sorry I guess I just like to moan

This post has been edited by Razer: 17 April 2004 - 12:51 PM

[Carl]

Didn't think you were moaning. Seems a very valid point you raised, which I would agree with entirely if there were electronic means of confirming "real" cards (microchip inside perhaps?).

Indeed, I would have absolutely no idea what your warrant card looked like.

While I'm at it, Welcome to the forum. It's very friendly here, enjoy yourself.

Regards,

Carl

[Minerva]

Thank you I'm always on the look out for new places to look and this one happend on my screen by mistake.

When challenged for your card do you actually let people physicaly take possession of it? I'm a bit weary about this and being quite new to my job still looking for advice....

A microchip would help BUT then it would be dependant on all the right people having the readers for them etc.

[Carl]

Never give your Warrant Card to anyone else. They can look at it, but unlike the impression the Bill gives, you're never obliged to hand it over.

I hope you enjoy your new job.

Regards,

Carl

[Minerva]

Hmmm not watched the Bill much...
Thanks I think I will once I get to go out side our office

[David]

Hampshire issue Warrant Cards in the form of a credit-card sized thing with photo, seal and the Chief Constable's signature which is held in a black leather wallet affair with a metal crest attached. The idea is that the card can be 'swiped' at doors at equipped stations (it's never worked for me in any case).

NEVER physically hand your Warrant Card over - hold it so that they can see and read it but keep a very firm grip on it, making sure you don't obscure the photo. Since in uniform I've only had to produce it once to a dear old lady who wanted to look at it through the letterbox before she opened the door (and quite right too).

[Minerva]

Thanks for the info once again.

BTW have you ever had trouble using your cards to open bank accounts or is it just me and HSBC where the woman wants a DNA sample and a letter from the Midwife etc....

[Carl]

They don't have to accept it as ID as far as I'm aware. Even though it is usually valid as ID in other respects. As I recall from Kim, if they aceept it as ID (even though it is not on their list) the cashier accepting is personally liable should you be a fraudster.

Regards,

Carl

[Kitty]

You are correct Carl.

If the form of ID is presented to a cashier and is not from the list issued by the regulating body the cashier is personally liable for any comeback on incorrect payments.

The list is drawn to enable fairness to all - I think most people have birth certificates, many have passports, many have driving licences.

[5179CD-Met]

Do you remember the old style 'flash cards' that the Met. used to issue us ??? What a load of rubbish it was.......not at all representative of the office that we hold. Anyhow.....the new style warrant card is miles better. However, I do have a problem with the fact that the part of the card that flips over your pocket (if in plain clothes) is now the ID card as opposed to the Crest (badge). I think this is fine when in Police buildings as it let's others know of your type of authority but not when out on the street with Joe public. Joe doesn't read ID cards he identifies more with the crest than an ID card. When roaming the streets in plain clothes people still look for the crest !!!!

[warren84]

I saw one of the new style warrant cards being used by a police officer at INTROMET. I agree with you. From a distance it would be hard to recognise the ID card as that of a police officer. For example, you see loads of people walking down the streets now with a variety of photo IDs for their respective companies/organisations. The Metropolitan Police Crest is unique and I think this is the part that should flap out of your pocket and the part that most people recognise.

Or, why not have them so that both the crest and the photo ID can be 'flapped' out of the pocket. Photo ID in the police station/Crest on the streets.

Warren

[Lord Vader]

Interesting facts about the warrant card in your pocket...

http://www.thesite.org/info/legal/police_a...rrant_card.html

It says that Specials can have their warrant card picture in civvies... never heard of that before, as far as I know they are always in uniform - anyone here know different?

[MaW]

I remember reading somewhere a long time ago that Specials always had their picture in civvies - obviously that was debunked the moment I saw a Special's warrant card. That would explain where someone got that idea from though.

[Stuart 5646]

My original one was in civvies as the picture was taken long before I had uniform.

My replacement, was in uniform, simply because I was on duty at the time of getting it

[Tango Mike]

Photograph of the holder A regular officer must appear in uniform, while a Special Constable is free to pose in *civvies*

Never seen on in Civvies myself.

The serial number for the warrant card Printed on the card itself.
Nope mine doesn't have a collar number or a serial number.

The officer's name Just don't get too familiar, or call him Dick if his name is Richard. Whatever the name, it's 'officer' to you.

Nope mine only has my Inital and Surname

The officer's rank From Constable to Chief Inspector
Yep.


The officer's warrant number Recognisable because it takes the form of two digits, a forward slash, followed by six digits.

Eh??? Not at all.

The officer's signature But only in the case of full-time officers
Hmm - why's mine got my signature on it then?

The Police Commissioner's signature But no jokes about the scrawl *looking a bit serial killer*.
lol

All in all a not very accurate site then.

[Stuart 5646]

you think thats inaccurate look at the other pages :roll:

Quote

Fingerprints & Photographs

The police can take your fingerprints if they have reason to suspect your involvement in a crime. They are also allowed to take your photograph, but cannot force you to have your picture taken against your will. The fingerprints and photographs must be destroyed if you are charged and found not guilty, or not charged at all.

WRONG

don't you just love these web sites

Quote

Scenario two: A police officer stops you in the street

Your rights:
You are entitled to know:
The officer's name
The police station where they work
Why the officer has stopped you (your appearance is not a good reason).

Lol that last one makes me laugh, 99% of the times the reason someone is stopped is their appearance, they match the profile of known robbers or because they match a suspects description :?

I thought there was a section of pace that allowed us to put any question to any person :?

[Liz]

I have one of the new style warrant cards with the Met crest on the left hand side of the holder with the brail underneath that. Then my warrant card is on the right hand side with the hologram and although it hasn't been activated yet it also acts as a swipe card like my CRIS card.

[Carl]

Quote

The officer's warrant number Recognisable because it takes the form of two digits, a forward slash, followed by six digits.

That would appear to refer to MPS warrant numbers.......mayhap the person responsible only has access to an MPS card ?

I can confirm that whether or not you're in uniform doesn't matter for Warrant Cards. Mine was in Civvies & is appalling as I was feeling none too good at the time...... :?

The alleged facility of the new MPS warrant cards to swipe into CRIS is not available & will become obselete this year as you will no longer swipe into it anyway. The card also does not work for the purposes of swipe reader entry to Police Stations. Basically, it is not fit for the purposes it has been made for. I'm sure this will be rectified over time :roll:

I am loath to get the new one as the holder/armorials themselves appear cheap & almost plastic-like in appearance. I don't like it at all :?

Carl

[Spence]

The photo that will appear on my Warrant card is me in my civvies which i found very strange! and one girl that had her photo's done was wearing a Arsenal Shirt!!!!!!

[Carl]

Quote

was wearing a Arsenal Shirt!!!!!!

Ah well, she'll have EVERYONE laughing at her then............. but how come an Arsenal shirt ? I thought they were the "little boys" team ?

Regards,

Carl
(I shan't get drawn on football 'cos IMO it's rubbish & pointless....)

[Spence]

Yeh!!

Better not get onto the teams that we all support!!!