Career in Police Force with a View to Joining Mounted

[JJ1987]

Hey all
Wasn't sure whether to post this here or the careers section so posted it on both but thought I'd get the most response in here. I am basically looking for anyone who is in the police or, even better, a mounted police force who could give me some information about the job. I am ringing a member of the Met Mounted Police later today for some advice but it seems in this business it's good to have spoken to other people in the force - a case of who you know!
My main questions are the following:
1. When is it best to apply to join a force as certain forces are accepting applications now but I have 2 more terms at university to finish yet
2. Is it best to apply to a smaller force instead of going straight for, say, a London force - i.e. more chance of getting in?
3. I am interested in eventually becoming a mounted police officer (I know that I have to complete my 2 year probation period first) - is it better to apply to a force with a mounted division already or does it not really matter where you are based?
4. I wear glasses for long distance sight - is this a disadvantage in my application?
5. Is there anything I can do to make myself stand out such as first aid training, self defense courses etc? I have already enquired about becoming a Special Constable (waiting for a reply) and am looking into doing some first aid training in the easter holidays
6. Added to the question above, should I write on my application form that I am looking into these things?
7. Specific to those in the Met - you can only apply to the Met police after attending a Police Officer Recruitment Day, is it likely there will be one anytime soon as there is no mention of one on the website?
8. References - on the application form it asks for 2 references, ideally from employers who have known me at least 3 years. I am a student and therefore have had 3 part time jobs, none of which have last 3 years. The only people that will have known me that long are high school teachers. What is best to do in this circumstance?

 

[Nats_uk]

I can't answer your questions unfortunately but would like to give you a bit of a warning (sorry!)

When the new Mounted Police Dept was opened in Essex a number of horse-riders applied for the jobs but the positions all went to non-riders, the police's reasoning being that it would be easier to teach non-riders the "Police" way then to teach people that could already ride to do things in a different way

 

[the watcher]

[ QUOTE ]
Hey all
Wasn't sure whether to post this here or the careers section so posted it on both but thought I'd get the most response in here. I am basically looking for anyone who is in the police or, even better, a mounted police force who could give me some information about the job. I am ringing a member of the Met Mounted Police later today for some advice but it seems in this business it's good to have spoken to other people in the force - a case of who you know!
My main questions are the following:
1. When is it best to apply to join a force as certain forces are accepting applications now but I have 2 more terms at university to finish yet I suggest you start appying around Easter
2. Is it best to apply to a smaller force instead of going straight for, say, a London force - i.e. more chance of getting in? One of those times where size doesn't matter, but one with an existing Mounted Section would be best
3. I am interested in eventually becoming a mounted police officer (I know that I have to complete my 2 year probation period first) - is it better to apply to a force with a mounted division already or does it not really matter where you are based? See above. But keep your options open, you may decide Mounted isn't the life for you when you have experienced the other directions available
4. I wear glasses for long distance sight - is this a disadvantage in my application? Shouldn't be a problem within reasonable parameters - most forces will advise a minimum unaided eyesight requirement
5. Is there anything I can do to make myself stand out such as first aid training, self defense courses etc? I have already enquired about becoming a Special Constable (waiting for a reply) and am looking into doing some first aid training in the easter holidays. Volunteering in the community, voluntary youth work, would be more relevant
6. Added to the question above, should I write on my application form that I am looking into these things? See above
7. Specific to those in the Met - you can only apply to the Met police after attending a Police Officer Recruitment Day, is it likely there will be one anytime soon as there is no mention of one on the website? Don't know, you could ring recruiting and ask though
8. References - on the application form it asks for 2 references, ideally from employers who have known me at least 3 years. I am a student and therefore have had 3 part time jobs, none of which have last 3 years. The only people that will have known me that long are high school teachers. What is best to do in this circumstance? Uni refs will do since you haven't worked long term and think of an upstanding member of your home community who might give you a personal reference

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[the watcher]

[ QUOTE ]
I can't answer your questions unfortunately but would like to give you a bit of a warning (sorry!)

When the new Mounted Police Dept was opened in Essex a number of horse-riders applied for the jobs but the positions all went to non-riders, the police's reasoning being that it would be easier to teach non-riders the "Police" way then to teach people that could already ride to do things in a different way

[/ QUOTE ]

That may have been the perception. The reality is that being a good or competent rider is only a small part of the role, and a part that can be taught. More importantly the kind of person who will be recruited will have shown themselves to be proactive in public order matters, will be fully trained in Police Support Units (helmets and shields and all that stuff) and will have demonstrated outstanding enthusiasm and commitment.

Occasionally somebody with all these attributes will also, happily, already be a comptetent rider.

 

[Nats_uk]

It wasn't the public "perception" - I was told by a senior officer in the force (off the record) that that was the reasoning why

 

[Araminta]

I also would have to say Join the Police if you want but NOT with the intention of becoming a mounted officer. You MAY get lucky in the future and manage to secure a place but many,many more applications than places and once in usually only pensioned out!

I also agree that they tend to prefer people with not too much knowledge of horses as they like to teach "Their way" However, this would come far down the list of "needs"

You could apply to one of the mounted units to do some work experience - I know at least 2 units that will do this - again, places are sought after and can be difficult to get in.

Good luck

 

[ha903070]

Yes I agree dont join the police just to do mounted because its highly unlikely you will get in, I dont know anyone from my force who has got through who already rides, they like to teach you from scratch.

Its a very hard job, very demanding, in my opinion means you have no time for your own horses or your own life outside of work and even when you're not at work you're expected by everyone you know to help them with all their problems and lives when all you want is time away from work.

If i'd known how much of a lifestyle choice it would be I wouldnt of joined the job, some people love it and for a number of years I did but am starting to regret now and trying to find a way out. Unfortunately once you're in you seem to be trapped unless you can 'afford' to leave.

All I will say is do plenty of research on how your life will be changed by the job and dont join simply for mounted you have to do a minimum of 2 years service in uniform before you can even consider applying for anything else.

Its not the worst job in the world but neither is it the best.

 

[SnowandSunshine]

Hi, I am a PC in the MET, applied for mounted a while ago and didn't get in - not unusual, most don't get in on the first application. Here goes!

[ QUOTE ]

My main questions are the following:
1. When is it best to apply to join a force as certain forces are accepting applications now but I have 2 more terms at university to finish yet.
2. Is it best to apply to a smaller force instead of going straight for, say, a London force - i.e. more chance of getting in?
3. I am interested in eventually becoming a mounted police officer (I know that I have to complete my 2 year probation period first) - is it better to apply to a force with a mounted division already or does it not really matter where you are based?
4. I wear glasses for long distance sight - is this a disadvantage in my application?
5. Is there anything I can do to make myself stand out such as first aid training, self defense courses etc? I have already enquired about becoming a Special Constable (waiting for a reply) and am looking into doing some first aid training in the easter holidays
6. Added to the question above, should I write on my application form that I am looking into these things?
7. Specific to those in the Met - you can only apply to the Met police after attending a Police Officer Recruitment Day, is it likely there will be one anytime soon as there is no mention of one on the website?
8. References - on the application form it asks for 2 references, ideally from employers who have known me at least 3 years. I am a student and therefore have had 3 part time jobs, none of which have last 3 years. The only people that will have known me that long are high school teachers. What is best to do in this circumstance?

[/ QUOTE ]

1) You'll have to contact individual forces to find out when best to apply. I think the Met is currently about 18months from application to start date.
2) Not sure on that one. However bear in mind if you join one force and transfer to another, you may be required to stay in the job you apply to for 2 yrs before you can move. Eg you can't apply directly to Mounted in the Met - only to Borough or certain other posts and you then have to do 2yrs tenure.
3) See above, probably better to apply direct to force with mounted.
4) No!
5) Special constable helps. Other option is to do Community Support Officer but thats another 2 yrs ish. Wouldn't bother with self defence or first aid - only if you do something with it - ie show that you did some community based volunteering or something.
6) Probably!
7) Er, don't think so, didn't used to have to anyway but that may have changed. Should all be on the website.
8) I would email the recruitment people who will know that one.

Now for the bad bit!

You have to want to be a police officer or you won't get through it. Don't even think you'll get into mounted for 4-5 yrs at the earliest.
Yes you need to do the 2 yrs probation. The biggest thing for Mounted is public order. You have to show you can deal with large scale disorder, violent people, fights etc. Most Mounted officers will have done Level II public order training where you have to wear body armour, carry a large shield, run a course, have firebombs thrown at you, deal with a 'violent man' who comes at you with a baseball bat - and means it!! You then do level II aid which is football matches, marches, large crowd situations, anything which could go wrong and end up in big fights or disorder.
To get all that experience would probably take another couple of yrs. Then the applications for Mounted will only come out every year or so and you have to get accepted for interview from a huge number of applicants.
If you get an interview you have a riding assessment and an interview where you demonstrate what a great police officer you are. There very few questions in the interview to do with horses. Some people apply 2 or 3 times before they get in.

At present I don't think they are bothered whether you can ride or not in the Met. They like you to show you have made an effort to have some lessons if you haven't ridden before but thats about it.

If you do get in, you can give up your weekends! My friend's just got in and she has one Sunday off in 4 and works every other weekend day. This is because a lot of public order stuff - football, marches etc is obviously at weekends.

I hope I'm not sounding too negative - just want you to be aware of the reality. Of course this is just my experience in the Met and things may be different in other forces.

Good luck if you decide to go for it!

 

[JJ1987]

Thanks Alexe, that's actually really helpful as the Met is my main aim to joining. I spoke with a main guy at the Met Mounted today and he's really helped me with some of my questions. To be fair I really think police is for me anyway, the mounted part is a long term goal I hope to achieve but I'm really into everything else as well so waiting a number of years before getting in is fine by me! I wonder if it would be possible to get a really honest opinion from you and maybe even your friend about life as a police officer and a mounted officer (even if you PM me with it) so that I have some real life evidence instead of what careers people may tell me to encourage me to join. I am phoning the careers department tomorrow to ask about certain things such as how to apply to the Met and if it would be more worthwhile applying to another force and doing a couple of years there before transfering etc etc.
Any help or advice from anyone is greatly received as it's obviously a big step but don't think I'm just going into the police for the mounted section as I know it is very difficult to do it - I've been advised by this guy today that if mounted is what I would like to do in long term then joining the Met is the best thing to do as there are more opportunities there than anywhere else.
Thanks again all and keep the info/advice coming!

 

[lottie940]

I work for a small rural force in the east midlands and I enjoy it but I am not one of these people who 'live for the job'. I work to live and cherish my days off to do as I please.

If you join the mounted section you make a big commitment to giving up alot of your free time, especially at weekends and the days you are required to work may not always be the ones you would normally be rostered, we call these cancelled rest days. This is where they basically make you work and just give you a day back. You also have to think about the festive period, I had the advantage of been off this Christmas but in 2007 I worked all of it leaving no time for family festivities. You will work every new year aswell but this doesn't bother me. You also have to take into account you will frequently have no choice but work past the end of your shift as you can't always down tools and hand things to the next shift, another lifestyle inconvenience.

You don't need any qualifications to join but you do need to be the right person for the job. A large part of policing is using common sense and people skills and often talking your way out of danger, particuarly in a small force like mine where back up is usually at least 22 miles away!!! A strong stomach is also essential and people of a sensitive and nervous disposition should seriously not apply. An understanding other half is also good, my hubby is CID so understands when I'm late/ get called in etc and vice versa. It's very hard for partners not in the job to understand this element of the job.

On the plus side the Police force has given me the opportunity to do loads of things that most people can never comprehend or understand. I am not just talking about courses and training but sometimes you get the opportunity to do amazing things as part of your everyday job.

There are quite a few large forces that offer opportunities to join the Mounted Section and joining a big force like the Met will not guarantee that you will get the opportunity to apply. They have more officers than any other force so when jobs like that come up there will be alot more competition for them as there will be more applications and people tend to retire out of the mounted posts rather than leave so they don't come up often.

When I joined I was the same as you, I wanted to do Mounted ( I'd have to transfer for this as my force don't have one) or I wanted to do Dog handling but after looking into both roles I changed my mind as my perception of the jobs was far from the reality of them. I have stayed as a response officer as I get a very varied day and never have two days the same.

Good luck if you do apply, but don't do it unless you are 100% because as one officer further up the page says ' once you are in and have paid a few years into your pension you cannot afford to leave'. Not a problem I have but I have heard it said many times and unfortunately that keeps people in the job who do not want to be there and makes them unhappy.

 

[SnowandSunshine]

So difficult because obviously different jobs suit different people. I would agree with what ha903070 says. The first 3 years I loved it, it does tend to take over your life though. You form very close friendships with your colleagues because you are with them all hours of the day in unusual situations and you really have to trust and depend on each other.
With the shifts you can miss out on contact with other friends and family and a lot of marriages/relationships don't survive. You often get stuck at work with overtime and you have no choice, you can't leave if you're dealing with a prisoner or standing on a crime scene. You may have organised something and then get stuck with 4hrs overtime. A lot of partners have difficulty with this.

The first couple of yrs as a probationer you will do a lot of the legwork cos you basically need to learn. Its new and fun and the social life is good.

Once you've done 3 or 4yrs on borough response you'll have done your response driving course and be working most of the time with a probationer. At that point (in the Met anyway) you are likely to have dealt with most scenarios and things tend to become a bit samey. You get a bit frustrated with the same repeating problems which will never get any better. So much crime is driven by drink and drugs and its gets a bit depressing dealing with people who ruin other peoples lives because they can't sort themselves out. Some people love it and stay on borough but a lot will move on to squads, CID, traffic etc

My husband absolutely loved it for years - he would have done the job for no pay. Its a generalisation and I hate to say it but a lot of the 'chasing people, detaining, arresting, driving fast cars' is very blokey and a lot of male officers get a real buzz out of it. Women tend to be better at talking to people and sorting out situations without getting into 'taking them down on the pavement' stuff. Thats not to say they can't do it and female officers have exactly the same opportunities. When I joined I think it was about 1:5 female:male, I suspect its more females now. When I did level II public order training I would say the ratio was more like 1:15 because its so much more physical. Conversely, Mounted is the only section which has more female applicants than male.

You will probably get the greatest opportunities in the Met because its so big. The other thing to consider is the Met usually double crews whereas a lot of the counties send you out on your own, which can be demotivating. Also if you call for assistance in the Met you know someone will be there very quickly whereas the counties have so much area to cover that it could be a while before you get help.

I was in the Met for 5yrs and then left to move to Ireland. I returned about 3 months ago and could only apply to borough or TfL (bus) police. When you transfer from another force OR you apply for a new job internally within the Met there is usually a 2 yr tenure which means you cannot apply for anything else for 2 yrs. So I'd suggest if you want to end up in the Met you may aswell start with them.

I have to say I'm now in the same boat as ha903070. I've really had enough of it and I would like to do something else but I don't have the qualifications to earn as much in another job.

On the plus side I will always have a job when there is growing unemployment, the pension is very good and the opportunities for part-time & term-time working are there if you have a family.

As for the Mounted bit, I know someone who applied when I did about 3 yrs ago and got in. He loves it and finds it comparitively 'easy'. My other friend has been in about 4 months now and is also haveing a great time.

To begin with I think you ride a number of different horses and I think after a while you are given one particular horse. You have to remember that you may have to ride your horse into a violent crowd that are throwing bricks/bottles at you. The horses of course are trained for this but you have to consider how you will feel about it - you can't get the gitters at the last minute because you're worried the horse will get injured.
If you are not out doing parades, marches, football matches etc you generally do 2/3 hrs general patrol.
Remember that the horses are (in the Met anyway) stabled 24/7 so if you find that difficult as a horsey person its something to consider. A lot of them have issues with their backs due to so much standing stationary with a rider and the never ending concussion from the roads.
You have to give up weekends which may be difficult if you have a family or you have your own horses you want to compete.
You may find after mucking out and riding all day at work it takes the fun out of your own riding time and the pleasure you get from your own horse/s.

Having said all that, every time I see them out on the street, I still think 'I wanna do that!'.

Phew - have I blagghhhed enough! Ask away if theres anything specific you want to know.