Career change…. Police officer at 45 years old?

[Ballsaque]

Any coppers here?

Any coppers who enjoy their job?

My current industry couldn’t be further away from the Police (I work in the arts) but I don’t want to do it any more.

I do

22 years service I've had and still enjoy it. Everyday is different and you meet some really interesting people.

The shift you work with become another family to you - and its a great feeling to see 'your family' policing the town.

You're never going to change the world - but i like to think that i can change the lives of the people you come in contact with.

Thanks for your reply @Felix125

I have a good friend who enjoys it too. I feel like it would be my last change age wise to give it a good go.

Unfortunately my DH already works shifts so I’m not sure it is even a possibility yet (DC too young to leave over night).

I wouldn't do it to be honest starting at that age.i did it for 23 years and retired at 51. When you start you work shifts. Shifts are a killer especially if you have a young family as it is more difficult recovering from a night shift when you're in your forties.You can't expect to just finish at the end of your shift either especially if there is someone you've arrested. I lost count of the number of times I worked a double shift and missed family events and I had a young daughter at the time.

The morale is quite low, new officers are working alone a lot and becoming demoralised very quickly. The workloads have been and still are ridiculous. There is a big retention problem of new recruits because of this. You also need to do a fitness test every year and you will be expected to pass the same running test as a 20 year old.

You may be better applying to be a PCSO.they don't have workloads like the police but work with the police.

My advice would be to speak to some officers at your local station - new recruits and those who have s few years service.Sorry to sound bleak bit it's better to know the reality.

Are you 45 now? Because it’s likely that by the time the application process is done and you start, you could be a fair bit older.

A friend of mine recently took 2 years between application to starting.

and how’s your fitness?

I just asked my dad (not because he is man but because he is the closest person to me that’s been in the police) and he said he wouldn’t.

He is retired on a good pension, but served 32 years. However, he did say that when he was in (retires 4 years ago) that you had to be ‘beat fit’ even if you did a desk job. That could have changed. But if it hasn’t, you need to think about how long you could remain fit enough to go on the beat in, say, 15 years.

Ah I see @gonnabeok has mentioned the fitness test you need to pass each year. So I presume it must still be a requirement.

My husband is. 99% of the problems in our marriage are caused by his work. He was OSU (basically riot police) for a few years which suited us better but now he’s back in response and he’s been on the transfer list for years with nothing. He gets a secondment here or an acting up there but nothing permanent. We’re in Scotland so it’s different here but the job isn’t worth the salary. He’s been injured a lot and just last week he had to get more hep b jags after he was bitten by a junkie. Tbh I’d rather he went back to his old job but he can’t. I’m sick of our plans being ruined because his days off get cancelled for court or football or the bloody queen (not impressed with an 8 week old baby at that bollocks) I’m sick of him regularly getting held on for hours and the shifts are a nightmare with childcare.

I know someone who joined MoD guard service at age 45. She passed the physical & other exams, so got in. Likes the job so far.