Should I join the police?

[Alonetime]

I'm looking at changing career, please help me decide by sharing your experience of working in the police and/or asking me the kinds of questions I should be asking myself.

As an officer or civilian or either?

I’m just (supposed to be!) studying at the moment for my detective exams, but can come back to this later.

Would you be ok with shift work? What do you think the police do? Can you see yourself doing it?

Apply and see what happens 🤷‍♀️

I'd ask yourself what role the police play in society (not the role they should play, the role they do play, which may or may not be the same thing depending on your ideologies) and ask yourself whether you can uphold that role. I'd also ask yourself what your reasons for joining are, and whether you'll be fulfilled in that role. (For example, if you want to help young people, there are other avenues that do this better, though all paths are imperfect.)

Yup, think about what they do as opposed to the desire to do good/help which I think many officers have in their heads. Can you cope with being spat at, finding dead bodies, being called the worst thing you can think of? Fighting with some idiot who’s on pcp? See if your chosen force does work shadowing. Shifts are very hard work, lots of officers I know can’t sleep in the day.

Good grief, no. (Former police officer.)

Why @Cocklepops?

There are lots of roles within the police so it depends on what you're considering, what kind of work you've done before etc.

I put in an expression of interest in a civilian role just before lockdown and am still waiting to hear that they've opened formal applications, so be warned it might be a slow process!

Former police officer here too.
Don't do it!

As an officer or civilian or either? As an officer, although I'd be open to learning more about civilian roles.

I think I might struggle with night shifts. To be honest that may be a deal breaker.

I want to serve and I want a completely new challenge. I want to feel useful and I love solving social problems.

There are lots of roles within the police so it depends on what you're considering, what kind of work you've done before etc.

My dream role would be detective, but without the hierarchical nature of it all and I appreciate they're not roles you can just walk in to. I did look in to supporting investigations in a civilian role but it was less than 50% of my current salary (although that's becoming less important as I get older).

My DH has been going through the recruitment process since August 2019 with no end in sight. They’ve emailed to say it could be January at the earliest before he starts training but likely to be longer. If you want to apply prepare for a very very long wait.

This might be Scotland-specific but I have a friend who has just left the police because after ten years of dedicated service including commendations and awards, there was absolutely no prospect of any kind of career advancement or promotion. That would put me off, I think.

So in order to progress to detective you usually need to do a couple of years on the beat first before you can do you DC exams to transfer, although now in my area the Police are taking on people with degrees and they are fast tracked onto a detective program.
I hated the shifts, night shifts being the worst, especially pacing the city centre for 8 hours on a Friday and Saturday night dealing with drunk people.
The Police are constantly short staffed, I was sent to all sorts of jobs alone in the middle of the night as a single crewed officer, stabbings, violent domestics, concern for safety jobs in derelict warehouses etc.
I didn't feel safe at all.
In the time I was there they expanded our beat area, so instead of being an area that was around 5 miles by 5 miles it almost doubled, with the same amount of officers but twice the area to cover.
Because there were so few officers you weren't allowed back in the station at all, bar 20 minutes per shift, as the inspectors wanted us to look more visible on the streets.
Plus the sexism I found from mainly higher ranks, the sexual relationships between married officers and the bullying culture.

As someone who works in the Police, you will have to consider if you're prepared to work shifts, days, evenings and nights with the likelihood of not finishing on time which impacts on family life. If you have children, can you manage childcare along with shift work? Bearing in mind when you join as a probationary constable you will have to work full time in order to complete your probation. Also with rest days cancelled which again impacts on your personal life. Not really selling it am I?!
It's a varied role and no two days are the same , however you do need to consider the above if you are serious about joining.

Nights as a rule are just response officers. Some forces insist you do response to start with (and tbh it’s the best place to learn) but others say you can train while on neighbourhood policing trans which don’t tend to be 24hrs. You will be expected to with weekends of course.

Is the nights issue due to family commitments or just you’d think you’d struggle to keep awake? If it’s the former you do need a good support network anyway. You’ll be missing Christmases, first days at school, school sports days (well, that one is a bonus admittedly 😉) maybe even your kids birthday parties. If it’s the latter, well, you get used to it.

If you’re in England or Wales had you considered being a PCSO? They don’t work nights and their role fits your remit. You can also then see if being a PC is what you think it’ll be.

I found the saying "join the force, get a divorce" to be pretty accurate.
Out of 20 of us that joined up together I would say that 12 of them are still in the job now.
I suppose at least there is job security, and the adrenaline of blue light runs can be very exciting, as can piling into a mass brawl!
It was never boring!

Missed the update about being a detective...

A lot of forces have a direct entry DC programme in place where you do a nominal time on the beat then transfer into a team covered by the investigations umbrella. I personally think this means the officer misses out on a lot of valuable experience but they may disagree. In your probation period you’re expected to pass the NIE (Investigators) exams and complete your probationary officer portfolio. I imagine it’s a lot of pressure. But you rarely work nights.

I’m currently doing NIE while working in domestic abuse. I like it as I get to send bad people to court. But there are a reasonable proportion of mundane days too, and a LOT of frustration when things don’t go how you want them to.

No children or caring responsibilities. I'm getting the feeling that this isn't for me. I think I'm too old set in my ways for joining anything but the most progressive of employers.

If you want to solve social problems, I’m not sure it’s the right job. The police are so over stretched, it’s a case of responding to what happens rather than preventing crime. There are a lot more roles in the community which may be more suited eg social care, social work. Have a look on your local police website and community policing and it might highlight how few officers cover such a large beat.

I would say as ex Police, don't. Have had to do some horrible stuff over the years, and some of it never leaves you

I joined at 22, left at 26 and joined the ambulance service. 1000% better. Police was very isolating, working alone constantly, not enough staff, no backup, carrying too many crimes, not enough support dealing with them, decisions always questioned by supervisors, always doubting your decisions, having to deal with constant crap jobs, no thanks from anyone. And I worked in a relatively low crime and nice rural area! The only thing I gained from that job was depression!

I was in the met police a long time ago, so I would hope by now the widespread sexism was a thing of the past, but I wouldn't be too sure. It was also an extremely racist force at the time, and things I see now do make me wonder if it's substantially any different these days.
Early and late shifts were okay, but I was never very good at nights as I always had trouble sleeping during the day. I used to get knackered and very moody. In those days we did 8 hour shifts. It might be different now.
Often days off can be cancelled at short notice due to operational reasons. You have to get used to disappointing people. It was often sometimes difficult to get annual leave, again, for operational reasons. Your shift might also be extended by hours without notice if something's going on (and if the overtime budget will stand it.)
You need a strong stomach, because you will see things that other people have never seen, you also need the patience of a saint because some people are total tools and will try their utmost to provoke you.
You need to be physically fit and healthy.
There is a lot of study in the first few years so it can be very full on, what with working full time as well. You will not have much free time.
I used to get to the point at the end of a shift that I didn't want to speak to anyone (family included) because I would often have spent the day dealing with other people's shit, and it wears you down after a while!
It's not a job for a shrinking violet either.

I say yes! If we were in America right now I’d probably say no, but the UK isn’t as bad so depending on the area, I imagine you’d be okay.

What I will say though is you will be dealing with people lying to you an awful lot and certain families will become your bread and butter. It can be very depressing. From a personal point of view I couldn’t deal with the sadness of dealing with deaths and having to tell family members. My friend who was a copper told me some harrowing stories that stay with me to this day. If you are emotionally strong that would be a huge asset.