Who actually has to do the police work

Yes, The job encourages that route because it allows the organisation to take a good look at the candidate before they accept them.

Once again its a reflection on the way modern employment rules have changed things.  In my day there was a day of stringent interviews and tests, many of them stressful. then if selected you were on 2 years probation during which you could be chopped at any time and several were!

Today the various Forces are worried about EO regs etc, on the stressful tests, and of getting sued etc.   In addition it is much more difficult to chop probationers during the 2 years than it used to be. Hence the modern practise of watching the performance of PCSO's and specials etc for an extended period before you let them in to start proper policing. Once again though the result for the public has been Policing on the cheap for all too often a brace of poorly trained and inexperienced PCSO's is all the local station has available.

My old bosses will be spinning in their graves to see what has become of the service.

TF

Actually I don't have a problem with "specials"  at least they were to a great extent properly trained and as a result had powers etc.

My problem was always with the PCSO's or plastic policemen. Not much training and very few powers. They were just the Gov'ts way of getting Policing on the cheap.  This is a classic instance of the folly of trying to get a vital service on the cheap.

TF

Write your comments here...and the specials got stuck in with the regular officers! Always found the Specials good solid blokes and very capable. It would be better to blow the PCSOs out and with the saved money ( which won't be much I grant you) pay for real police officers. Yes- Blairs Folly!! (amongst others!)

Theft is a CRIME! I'm afraid that the 'quality' is being drained from every facet of life. In my day, there werent any PCSOs ( what a joke!) an arrest would have been made and charges brought. I cant say for certain that the magistrates would have done their job and perhaps that's the problem- why bother if no one else cares?? Disgusting and a dereliction of duty as far as I am concerned . If I was the senior officer, heads would have rolled and it wouldn't have happened again. I wonder what would have happened had she knocked on the door and been told to 'go away' in expletives! 

Write your comments here...Excellent post Merve. 

Regards Kennine

Write your comments here...nice to see you around Ken!!

Some months after being 'involved' in a crime and the police deciding to take no action I was questioning this with one of the arresting officers who told me off the record that it was quite usual as the offence was not one of their funding targets, and due to budget cuts and staff shortage they have to target their resources to achieving their funding and political targets.

Its time for a branch & root review of policing ( or lack of it)> Lets get back to basics. Before anyone says it- its not lack of funding but the creeping in of non essentias and the "hide away" from it culture. Cut down the number of forces,get rid of the "Prof administrators"and the politically appointed top "Yes" men.

In the BSAP we had Police reserve known as the A Reserve and they were fully uniformed officers with the same powers as us. 

We then had the Field reseve who were mostly armed and operated in dangerous areas out in the field.  They were mostly farmers and had to endure attacks on their homesteads and landmines.

Lastly we had the Air wing which consisted of private pilots with their own aircraft who did various duties around the country such as casevacs, moving people, goods etc.

The A reserve had to do examinations like the regulars to get promotion however they were not paid except for away from home duties and similar.  The A reserve and the B reserve were all volunteers.

Sadly the ZRP who took over are a total disgrace to policemen worldwide!

On a personal level, I had a company take money from my debit card that they were not orthorised to. I went to the police and they were not interested but gave me some bumph on how to stop fraud. the bank,(would you believe it) were more helpfull and got my money back.