mattiethomp709
Active member
Daughters just started at 19 in cleveland police, i failed(miserably) an intervue for the police at 18, retired in 21 after 30 years in the fire brigade loved every minute of my time, hope shes made the right decision
Would you say the entry age should be raised?Did it for 2 and a half years as a 22 year old in 2002 - 2004.
It's varied, challenging and eye opening. An incredible experience thats probably stood me in good stead ever since.
It's also very stressful, tiring, frustrating and boring at times. Most night shifts (bar weekends) are a slog. You're understaffed, underpaid and you come across some awful situations.
I was too young at the time, had no real world experience.
In my opinion it's a "vocation" rather than a career. You're never really "off duty", it's long hours, lots of weekends, nights and the expectation is you will put your hand up for overtime on a regular basis. Shifts often don't finish on time as you'll see something or something will kick off (to quote one of my old colleagues "the b***ds know when we're due to finish").
I think you have to love the job to stick with it and it becomes your identity to an extent. That works for some, but not others.
I'm pretty happy doing a far more boring job, but am home every night, get weekends off and I get paid more. But I don't regret the experience.
There's a case for it I'd say. Although some 20 year olds are old beyond their years and probably cope pretty wellWould you say the entry age should be raised?
I would say a lot of that applies to most jobs that young people go into.There's a case for it I'd say. Although some 20 year olds are old beyond their years and probably cope pretty well
One of the biggest problems at that age is having the confidence to stand up to older colleagues or superiors. I never experienced anything illegal, but there are different ways of doing things and, although it was rare, there were times I wasn't always comfortable at how things were done.
Not surprised at some of the stuff coming out the met. Think they recruit a lot of youngsters who I suspect end up just going along with some of the toxic culture.
I used to worked in a police station a few years ago. The undercover ones stood out a mile. There would be 50 people with very sensible haircuts and one who looked like Neil out of the young ones.Got a nephew in and a few ex-Forces mates on the beat. Met one a few years ago, he looked a right mess, hair was lank and as scruffy as fook. Said mate look at the state of you, he just winked and said drugs squad. Closest I got was working in the big house for 5 years.
That's my mate Mike, exactly. He doesn't trust anyone these days, not even me and we've been best friends since nursery school.Not a chance. I've known a few coppers and they have to deal with stuff that I wouldn't want to, all the time. It's no wonder so many of the ones I know end up jaded and with a very poor view of people.
I hadn't seen him for a few years and it was in a shop, thought he had gone off the rails, he was always a good actor.I used to worked in a police station a few years ago. The undercover ones stood out a mile. There would be 50 people with very sensible haircuts and one who looked like Neil out of the young ones.
Its the same all over the country.Who would want to be or want their son or daughter to be a copper in Middlesborough after watching that tonight.