Mounted poilce/police officers...

Are you in the police already? If not keep dreaming :)

I did my work experience with Avon & Somerset Mounted Division many moons ago, it was brilliant! But it is one of the most difficult areas within the police to get into, my EDT often says you're stepping in dead mens shoes.
 
It was always my dream job as a child, but the thought of spending countless years in the force, with only the faintest hope of every even getting to see an application form really put me off. :(
 
If not already in, don't! For a start, the residential training would mean you being away from baby, secondly it's not the job you think. Due to shifts, I would put my baby to bed on a Sunday night and not see her until Tuesday morning, and that for a couple of hours only. With all the cuts currently, I should think most Forces have a freeze on recruitment.
 
Think you have to be in the police for at least 2 years until you can try for the mounted police I think? The police is incredibly hard to get into at the best of times, and now practically impossible with all the job cuts they are making, let alone the mounted police. As people have already said, if you are not in already then probably don't bother!!! Recruitment is frozen and will probably be so for the near future :(
 
Im in the police and Id love to do the mounted bit, but as others have said their not taking on now for years probably, and a friend who's been in the force for a very long time told me that they dont like to take on people who already have horse riding experience, as they like to train them their way, dont know if that is totally true though.
 
SNORKEY said:
Im in the police and Id love to do the mounted bit, but as others have said their not taking on now for years probably, and a friend who's been in the force for a very long time told me that they dont like to take on people who already have horse riding experience, as they like to train them their way, dont know if that is totally true though.
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It seemed to be the theme of a tv programme I watched on them a few months back. Not one of them had riding experience.
 
You have to do atleast 2 years as a regular constable before trying to get into the mounted section.

These are small departments so it rare a vacancy becomes available.

Also the police are making cut backs and the mounted section is how they are thinking of doing it!

Avon and somerset mounted section are local to where i work, as well as the football ground!
They do a great job, it would be a shame if they went.
 
SNORKEY said:
Im in the police and Id love to do the mounted bit, but as others have said their not taking on now for years probably, and a friend who's been in the force for a very long time told me that they dont like to take on people who already have horse riding experience, as they like to train them their way, dont know if that is totally true though.
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This did use to be the case

However, they now prefer to have people who can sit up when going around a corner in canter - makes it easier/quicker/cheaper to train!!

My advise is, go into PCSO, whether voluntarily to start with, or full time.

That way, you have the experience you need for the police, so are more likely to get through the recruitment when they are recruiting again.

This is the route i am currently going down!

hope this helps!

bexcy-bee x
 
Think I'll echo what everyone else says. You have to do the normal porbationary training and PC bit first and then you can apply. BUT - looking at most of the people in the Avon & Somerset mounted section - they've been there years so as trendybraincell says "dead man's shoes".
Shifts and babies don't mix well but if you're already a PC you'll know this.
BUT I suppose there's no harm in applying for a transfer if you're already in the police as someone has to do it. If you're not already in the "job" then good luck with applying last A&S recruitement I think had something like 1500 applications for less than 100 jobs and the recruitment line was then closed.
 
Hiya, thanks for all the replies, i was going to join apply last year but circumstances got in the way, i have been to a couple of open days at the training collage in presdon/presbury (can't remember which) via the posative action team, to give me an insight, and go throught the whole exam process, they also gave me a mock exam, which they asked me to do and then we went throught my answers, and i got advised on how to improve them, but they were pretty good, so no probs there. My main problem would be role play, a few people i know failed on it.

I have been told, recruitment has been frozen for 3 yrs, so by that time baby won't be far off school, and i'd wait till he/she was. The officer i spoke to said his shifts were 3 days in 2 days off with one or to night shifts, but i get others have different hours. I also am aware i have to be in the force for two years before i can branch out.

It's something i have been interested in for a while and have given it a lot of thought, it's not just on a whim, i didn't even think of the mounted untill someone suggested it to me.
I just wanted opinions of officers on foot or horse, about their experince with woking in the police, before i decide if i want to go in that direction, i know it's a while off, but i want as much info as i can.
 
Its great that you're thinking well in advance, its probably more useful now since there is likely to be a lengthly recruitment freeze :) If you have the time and can afford volunetry(sp?) the Specials is an excellent way into the police, generally you train on weekends and have to complete 2 years probation before you are allowed out into the big wide world on your own (this is the case for Avon & Somerset, may vary across the country).
 
Are you moving to another part of the country?

Manchester police have just announced massive personnel cuts, I'll be surprised if they'll be recruiting any time soon.
 
quirky said:
Are you moving to another part of the country?

Manchester police have just announced massive personnel cuts, I'll be surprised if they'll be recruiting any time soon.
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No i,m not moving, and i know there not recruiting for at least 3 yrs, which give's me time to have my baby and enjoy him/her fully before he/she goes to school, then i'll think about applying, if recriutments going.
i know the application process, and that i have to do 2 yrs probation first and the basics for the job
I just want officers personal opinions on working as an officer.
 
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You still need to consider the fact that you could go through the police training and not once in your career have a chance to apply for one of the few Mounted divisions which you seem dead set on applying for.

You need to want to join the Police Force to become a police officer, not a mounted one :)
 
Hello,

I noticed you wanted to know a bit about what police officer's think about their job and I know quite a few so thought I'd pass on what they've told me!
Admittedly the ones I know work for London Met, but there is a real variation in how they view the role. The men tend to love it (speeding round the City in cars, bashing in doors on drug raids, and other general boy-type agressive things!), but the women I know are a little more reserved.

I have a friend who works in the CID department and she HATES it - typical 'public sector' she says - stupidly long hours, so much red tape, and very poor resources (her words, not mine!). However, she's on very good pay and she doesn't want to leave because of this and potentially a nice pension.
Other friends who are more involved in being 'on the beat' rather than office work have their ups and downs as with any job, but my girl friends struggle more with the emotional side (eg. people effing and blinding at them, being battered around in arrests, dealing with some very sad and difficult situations, shift work impacting on family life etc). Saying that, on the whole they do love being in the force and wouldn't trade it for a 9-5 desk job!

As people have said, there is a huge recruitment freeze on and the inside view tends to be that when it re-opens they will require people to do PCSO work first. I know you want to wait until you child goes to school, but perhaps you could get some part-time volunteer hours now or in the near future, I'm sure that would really speed your application up when hiring starts again. Then at least you would know if you like it before you jump ship into it as a full time post?

Sorry this has turned into a long waffle, but I suppose what I'm trying to say is that horses for courses - some love it, some hate it! I personally think it would be a great job ... no 2 days the same! X
 
Just to lighten things up :D
MVC-003FSpeedcopmule.jpg
 
teapot said:
You still need to consider the fact that you could go through the police training and not once in your career have a chance to apply for one of the few Mounted divisions which you seem dead set on applying for.

You need to want to join the Police Force to become a police officer, not a mounted one :)
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If you read my second post, i said i didn't even think of the mounted section till someone suggested it, i know places are limited, and it'll be hard to get in, but if i get the chance i'll defo be applying.
 
OneTrickPony said:
Hello,

I noticed you wanted to know a bit about what police officer's think about their job and I know quite a few so thought I'd pass on what they've told me!
Admittedly the ones I know work for London Met, but there is a real variation in how they view the role. The men tend to love it (speeding round the City in cars, bashing in doors on drug raids, and other general boy-type agressive things!), but the women I know are a little more reserved.

I have a friend who works in the CID department and she HATES it - typical 'public sector' she says - stupidly long hours, so much red tape, and very poor resources (her words, not mine!). However, she's on very good pay and she doesn't want to leave because of this and potentially a nice pension.
Other friends who are more involved in being 'on the beat' rather than office work have their ups and downs as with any job, but my girl friends struggle more with the emotional side (eg. people effing and blinding at them, being battered around in arrests, dealing with some very sad and difficult situations, shift work impacting on family life etc). Saying that, on the whole they do love being in the force and wouldn't trade it for a 9-5 desk job!

As people have said, there is a huge recruitment freeze on and the inside view tends to be that when it re-opens they will require people to do PCSO work first. I know you want to wait until you child goes to school, but perhaps you could get some part-time volunteer hours now or in the near future, I'm sure that would really speed your application up when hiring starts again. Then at least you would know if you like it before you jump ship into it as a full time post?

Sorry this has turned into a long waffle, but I suppose what I'm trying to say is that horses for courses - some love it, some hate it! I personally think it would be a great job ... no 2 days the same! X
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Thanx, thats the sort of reply i was looking for.
 
My OH is a Police Sergeant - he only has 18 months to go and is counting down. He enjoyed his first years, but said that he would never join now. Everything has changed - so PC, and the criminal justice system seems to support the offender, not the victim. I used to be a civilian, firstly in the Met and then in the rural area, I live in now. I was in the control room both times. If you want a really good civilian job, then I would recommend the control room. I loved every minute and only left because of centralisation of the control room outside my area and the fact that the rural force I worked for didn't stimulate me as much as working for the Met. Would I go back? Yes to a city force, definitely no to a rural force - too much petty crime and not enough shootings, robberies, and suspect devices!
 
I have just retired from the force after 26 years so have probably seen enough to give you some brief insights.

Shift work and family life are difficult to blend together, the only way I coped was to pay an au pair for 10 years. If you are due to finish your shift at 10pm for example, you may not get off until 2 in the morning if you have somebody in custody.

You will see and hear things that, on reflection, you might have preferred to go through life in blissful ignorance of..you will see the worst that people can do to each other, you will see horrific injuries, you will be endlessly frustrated at your inability to do very much about those who inflict that pain.

You will have to choose your friends carefully, you will have to be careful about your child's friends...children of police officers can be victimised, especially if you live in the community that you police. You will be subject to vetting, as will your partner and family, for many roles that vetting is extended and quite intrusive. The police control where you live and, to an extent, what you do in your spare time, if you ever commit an offence you cn expect to be dealt with far more stringently by a court than any other member of the public.

Specifically to the mounted section, there is football of course, so that is most weekends wiped out, ceremonial occasionally and box patrols relating to public order hotspots..which involves loading the horses up and trundling off to the most far flung town or city in the force, patrolling on the horses, then boxing them up and returning to the stables...nearly always on a weekend again.

Those are most of the negatives. The positives are that it can be an immensely satisfying job, there is a real sense of belonging to a team and it can be great fun too.

On balance, if I had a young child I wouldn't join. I think the impact on family life is just too great.
 
Rebelzmum said:
My OH is a Police Sergeant - he only has 18 months to go and is counting down. He enjoyed his first years, but said that he would never join now. Everything has changed - so PC, and the criminal justice system seems to support the offender, not the victim. I used to be a civilian, firstly in the Met and then in the rural area, I live in now. I was in the control room both times. If you want a really good civilian job, then I would recommend the control room. I loved every minute and only left because of centralisation of the control room outside my area and the fact that the rural force I worked for didn't stimulate me as much as working for the Met. Would I go back? Yes to a city force, definitely no to a rural force - too much petty crime and not enough shootings, robberies, and suspect devices!
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How did you find the working hours on the city force? the officer i spoke said he works 3 days in 2 off, but most people say it's long, long hours,.
 
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