Page 3 | Former Police Call Handler - AMA

Tiredfox34 · 2024-10-22T15:22:14+00:00

Fresh out of my year as a Police Call Handler for a Midlands based force. Happy to answer any questions people may have about the job, will be truthful about the highs and lows 🙂

Fedupandstressed · 23/10/2024 21:00

I did call handling for about 6 months then moved into dispatch for another 18, during which Covid hit, so I had to work from home, on the back office, as it were. Dispatch is definitely harder than call handling as your brain is working on about 4 different jobs and managing the maps and locations. You rely so heavily on help from the rest of the team and you need excellent hearing for the radio work. You also get to know the officers on your shift and which ones are reliable and which ones are slower to go. Half the time they didn't realise you could see exactly where they were on the map

Then I returned but to working in the Front Office at the local PS where I was relentlessly bullied by fellow staff. It was also awful having to deal with the public face to face most of the time. I used to think I was a people person. Until I had to deal with the sex offenders coming in to sign etc. I had a grievance in, against a colleague, when I managed to get a transfer and am now PA to the local commander, which is my favourite job ever! Miss the shift allowance though:(

Our shifts were only between 8-10 hours though. 2 earlies from 7 am, 2 lates from midday and then 2 nights from 2200. Then the luxury of 4 days off.

Original poster

Tiredfox34 · 23/10/2024 21:48

Notparticularlywealthy · 23/10/2024 20:00

Just checking: you would be the person who answers after a caller has told the 999 operator they want the police, right?

What kinds of conversations would you have? I know with the ambulance service they can talk you through CPR etc, what do the police talk about? Wording it clumsily!

Also, is it right to call 999 if someone is smoking marijuana whilst driving a car? I have called this in several times but at least once the handler sounded a bit puzzled about it.

Yes that's exactly it.
We dont have a script like ambulance, they have certain responses for conditions they're dealing with. We have to question, a lot. We're essentially paid to be nosy. We did have 'scripts' of questions for missing people for example, to get as much information as quickly as possible.

Yes that would be illegal however you'll be asked how you know they're smoking cannabis, vehicle details and location. This would go out for OBS because frustratingly they must be caught in the act of driving whilst intoxicated. (Same for drink driving)

OP posts:

Original poster

Tiredfox34 · 23/10/2024 21:52

Fedupandstressed · 23/10/2024 21:00

I did call handling for about 6 months then moved into dispatch for another 18, during which Covid hit, so I had to work from home, on the back office, as it were. Dispatch is definitely harder than call handling as your brain is working on about 4 different jobs and managing the maps and locations. You rely so heavily on help from the rest of the team and you need excellent hearing for the radio work. You also get to know the officers on your shift and which ones are reliable and which ones are slower to go. Half the time they didn't realise you could see exactly where they were on the map

Then I returned but to working in the Front Office at the local PS where I was relentlessly bullied by fellow staff. It was also awful having to deal with the public face to face most of the time. I used to think I was a people person. Until I had to deal with the sex offenders coming in to sign etc. I had a grievance in, against a colleague, when I managed to get a transfer and am now PA to the local commander, which is my favourite job ever! Miss the shift allowance though:(

Our shifts were only between 8-10 hours though. 2 earlies from 7 am, 2 lates from midday and then 2 nights from 2200. Then the luxury of 4 days off.

I know despatchers have to know which plates are spinning and where on a massive job queue, I couldn't deal with the level of pressure. Loved our teams despatchers though, fountains of knowledge.

Glad you found your fave job 😁 sounds like you more than earned it!

OP posts:

SuddenlyShoesan · 23/10/2024 22:21

There is a giant cctv camera on a pole outside our house which I can see from our upstairs bedroom. Do I need to be concerned about police peeping toms?

Original poster

Tiredfox34 · 24/10/2024 01:37

SuddenlyShoesan · 23/10/2024 22:21

There is a giant cctv camera on a pole outside our house which I can see from our upstairs bedroom. Do I need to be concerned about police peeping toms?

I'd be more worried about the independent CCTV operators that operate the cameras 👀

OP posts:

Tropicbeep · 18/11/2024 21:01

Hello there thanks for this awesome post .
I have assessment for this role next week with herts constabulary and feeling nervous. The typjng test is worrying me as i can type anything from 36wpm down to 26wpm so depends on my nerves !
What was the assessment like ? I have been studying the values and competences and grateful for any tips.