Monthly Archive for January, 2009

No toppings for me, please

Published on January 31, 2009 in The Job - General. Closed

written by 200 from 200 Weeks

Time for another video, which saves me having to think something up again..

They don’t always just shoot people in America, check out the SWAT vehicles in this one:

BLUtube is powered by PoliceOne.com

The original post can be found http://200weeks.police999.com/archives/1203

Van man

Published on January 31, 2009 in Uncategorized. Closed

written by Officer Dibble from Tales from the Metropolis

Been a bit busy since the New Year kicked in.

I have to admit that for the first time for a considerable number of months I am actually starting to enjoy work again.
I am out and about, not tied to the 'box' for hours an hours and pretty much left to my own devices once I have been given a job to do.

Since breaking free from being office bound I have even spent assorted shifts in the back of an OP van.I did a fair amount of this sort of stuff earlier in my career and despite comments from my younger colleagues such as 'oh no..we'll have to get one with a ramp' or 'make sure its fitted out with extra grab handles' it's the same as I remember it.

Unfortunately the TV might give the wrong impression of what the inside of an OP van looks like.It is not fitted out with the latest computers,flat screens or high tech imaging or listening equipment. The average van contains, if you are lucky, a chair (usually a dodgy one pinched from the office) and...er....thats about it.
You bring the rest with you, warm clothing, a radio and a plastic bottle in case the bladder doesn't hold out until you get relieved.

In fact the only difference that I can see about OP vans is the amount of paperwork and hoops you now have to jump through to get one authorised.

Sexy it ain't, but I'd rather be doing this than batting off weary E mails,getting mauled over 7 day supervision and VCOP figures or not hitting whatever target SMT were looking at this month.

I am now off to M and S to get a new set of thermals as my old ones don't fit anymore......oh dear.... maybe I am getting old.

The original post can be found http://officerdibble01.blogspot.com/2009/01/van-man.html

Police Roll of Honour

Published on January 31, 2009 in Adrian Martin and PCSO. Closed

written by PC Plastic Fuzz from The Plastic Fuzz

Saturday 31st January is the 3rd anniversary of the tragic death of PCSO Adrian Martin in 2006. He was the first PCSO to die on duty. Here is a link to his place on the Police Roll of Honour.

Adrian collapsed and died of heart failure when cycling on a road exercise while undertaking a police cycle training course at Hendon. Adrian had joined the police service as a PCSO in September 2002 and was stationed at Charing Cross Police Station.

Adrian Martin, Police Community Support Officer, Metropolitan Police, Died 31 January 2006, aged 45.

The original post can be found http://policecommunitysupportofficer.blogspot.com/2009/01/police-roll-of-honour.html

An unexpected thing.

Published on January 31, 2009 in Uncategorized. Closed

written by Constable Confused.com from Constable Confused.com

This is so difficult to explain to people.

I went to a sudden death about a week ago, 80+ year old lady who passed away in front of family members. Paramedics called and unfortunately pronounced that she was life extinct. We were called as per normal for a sudden death. After arriving and re-assuring the family that just because the police were there, they had no cause for concern.

The lady was very old, had been very ill and had only been allowed out of hospital a few days ago. The family were devastated. It was a large family, her oldest grand daughter was her primary carer and had moved with her own family to live with her. Her oldest daughter lived next door and was at the scene. Normally we turn up, ascertain that there are no suspicious circumstances and request the removal of the deceased to the mortuary. In this case all of her nine children were on their way to the address to see her at home for one last time. These were nice people, a rarity where I work and worthy of some empathy. It took two and a half hours for all of her grown up children to arrive and we waited outside despite numerous calls asking why we were delayed from the control room.

After satisfying ourselves that nothing dubious had occurred the grand daughter asked if she could arrange her gran to look more dignified as her death throes and the paramedics had made a bit of a mess. As this would be the last time her family would see her in her home I agreed. She thanked me profusely, offered to make me another coffee, which I refused and went to clear the mess. Normally you should ensure the deceased is undisturbed but I just had a "feeling" that this was right.

Eventually all the family had paid their respects and I requested that the on call funeral directors attend. I had explained the whole procedure about the removal of the deceased and the calls they had to make to the coroner. I really went out of my way to help these people. When the funeral directors arrived they were formally dressed and exuded an air of professionalism that really assisted in the upset of the day for this family. I am grateful to them.

As she was taken on the trolley from the house to the van I gave the family my details and told them that if they had any questions I finished at X PM and they could contact me any time.

I was astounded today to find a sealed letter to me containing a personal request had been left at the station asking if I could attend the funeral along with my colleague as we had supported the family so much on the day. This has never happened to me before and doubt that it ever will again. I am on duty at the time of the ceremony but will move heaven and high water to go.

Not sure that the three hours we spent on the day will greatly impact on crime figures but inwardly gives me a greater glow than any PWITS/GBH even murder arrest that I have ever made. I only met this family at the time of great sadness and loss to them but they remembered me. What other job do you get this from?

The original post can be found http://constableconfused.blogspot.com/2009/01/unexpected-thing.html

Move on up when you’re down……….

Published on January 30, 2009 in Uncategorized. Closed

written by Twining from THE TWINING CHRONICLES - A BRITISH POLICE NEWS FEED

Some years ago someone somewhere decided that HR Professionals would work on Area. Nice thought, so they moved onto Area. Now someone else somewhere has decided that HR Professionals will be brought closer to home, so they are moving back to HQ. Nice move. And they have been given the whole floor! They say what goes round comes around. I am sure the move to move them to Area got someone promoted. Now the move back will get someone else promoted. These are dangerous times for the move back to centre suggests HR will be seeking a stronghold grip on things.

Anyway on another note The Twining Chronicles found the below sign directing people upto the Head offices of NPIA. There’s another group that do little but what they do often leads to the promotion of a selected few. It’s a farce, I mean it’s a force to be reckoned with. I don’t know what the sign means. Zombies? Really. They walk around with thier eyes closed in some sort of trance. The NPIA clearly doesn’t do that, does it? Tea for me.

The original post can be found http://twining.wordpress.com/2009/01/30/move-on-up-when-youre-down/

Not hanging those boots up

Published on January 30, 2009 in The Job - Experience. Closed

written by 200 from 200 Weeks

Things are a bit strange at work at the moment. It’s like being in some kind of state of neither here nor there.

Most people know I’m retiring fairly soon & just about everyone asks me how long I’ve got to go. Whilst I know how many working days I have & how many official employed days, I don’t have a clue how many hours, minutes or seconds that is which seems to surprise some people.

Mind you, they’re not as surprised as when they find out I’m coming back. There are very few, if any, who enjoy working in the control room as much as they did a year or two ago; things have changed so much in such a short time.

I think people expect me to retire & go off & play golf or travel the world. Sadly, real life is somewhat different, whilst that may have been possible with a grown up family, it’s not with a couple of budding university students. At the last count it was about 9 grand a year to get through uni & whilst I like the idea of my kids having to grow up pretty quickly & develop a sense of responsibility with money, I don’t think it’s fair to saddle them with a £27 grand debt by the time they come out the other side (& that’s if they only do 3 years).

A lot of my colleagues have come back over the years, however, I will not be doing what some of them do & that’s walking out as a police officer on the Friday & returning as a civvy on the Monday. I’ll have a few weeks to chill out.

So people can’t understand my need to come back. The usual response when I say I am is words along the lines of “You’re fucking joking”.

Sometimes I wish I was, still the extra money will be nice. By the time I pay off my debts & taking into account I’ll be in the 40 per cent tax bracket, we reckon we’ll have about £1,000 of disposable income per month more than we’re getting now.

At that rate I reckon I can put the pipe & slippers on hold for a few years.

The original post can be found http://200weeks.police999.com/archives/1198

Incase you were wondering.

Published on January 29, 2009 in Uncategorized. Closed

written by Constable Confused.com from Constable Confused.com

Just to explain the photo in my profile.

I am singly crewed on a Sunday afternoon at about half past one in the afternoon. An IRIR comes in about a domestic between mother and son at an address. I am the only patrol available and subsequently call up for the job. Blue lights and everything on the way and as I turn into the road there is a male on my right on the pavement. I at scene as I turn into the road (can't forget to hit the tag) and all of a sudden there is an enormous crash as the driver's window gets smashed and I feel something tear the sleeve of my shirt. I quickly re-assess and see that there is a young lad with a mace still swinging it looking where to strike next. I'll be honest I'm covered in broken glass and not entirely sure what has happened, another bang and thankfully the windscreen has stood up but what is going to happen next? I drive towards the subject (on the pavement) and he jumps over a garden wall to avoid being run over. I get out and challenge him (figure the words out yourself) and he then produces a knife and a crowbar. These are both decorated in various colours of insulation tape similar to the mace in the picture.
He continues trying to swing the mace at me it has various screws and nails sticking out of it and I decide that I need some help. I try to do this without the orange panic button but am getting drowned out by other radio traffic. I press it and explain the situation. I am re-assured that help is on the way. The male continues to walk backwards issuing threats and challenges towards a busy main road. Once on the road the situation changes. There are other MOP's on the pavement and I am screaming at them to move out of the way. One clown in a car slows down and the passenger produces a mobile phone and starts filming this (still can't find it on Youtube). I can now hear sirens in the distance and know that the gang are on the way. We walk for about another 2-300 yards with me communicating tactically all the way. All the possible police response options are explained and how much better it would be to just give up. Guess what, he didn't. Eventually other patrols arrive and to cut a long story short he was surrounded. He started circling to get an escape route and once when he had his back to me, in the best home office approved method, I struck him to his right leg at the same time 3 colleagues let go with C.S. Work out if you can who also got a dose. Snotting and with eyes streaming I see the male being handcuffed and aftercare being administered. I then realise that there is a fully liveried police car still running in the street with a broken window and more importantly my cigarettes are still inside it. A late comer to the job secures the car and thankfully it is still there along with my cigarettes.
A brief smoke later and off to custody. As we both stand in the holding cell with red eyes and the adrenaline wearing of he says words to the effect that he is sorry and it all started with an argument with his mum. It then becomes apparent that this is the son in question in the original job. This had been forgotten by me (for obvious reasons) and the radio room, it all was made clear then and things made sense. The mum was safe and well and the son locked up for S.4 POA, off weapon and crim dam. Charged with all three and received some sort of silly referral order in court. All jolly worthwhile, not.
It makes me wonder why the country is in the state it's in.
Just as a disclaimer I do not endorse smoking and yes the appropriate form was subsequently filled in.

This post should hopefully explain to people just how fluid a seemingly routine call can be. If subjects similar have been posted previously then I apologise but I do still squeak when typing as I am still new to this.

The original post can be found http://constableconfused.blogspot.com/2009/01/incase-you-were-wondering.html

Integrity is Non-negotiable

Published on January 29, 2009 in Not the Job. Closed

written by 200 from 200 Weeks

The fact that I am able to post something today is testament to my superior IT skills in upgrading my laptop; it’s still alive & able to do laptop-type things, hurrah!

I was reminded this week about a recent posting where an MP was complaining about police officers earning extra money. I entitled the item ‘Standards of a double nature”. The subject has reared its head this week, firstly with the allegations that some of the most privileged people in the land aren’t averse to lining their pockets with even more free cash by offering to accept money to influence legislation.

“We’ve done nothing wrong” they say in the House of Lords, well they would, wouldn’t they? I guess there is a fine line between taking a bribe and offering consultancy.

Then, today we see the case of that other MP, Derek Conway, who was censured last year for paying his youngest son lots of tax payers’ cash for doing work he never actually did. This week he’s been told to repay several grand for overpaying his oldest son for similar ‘work’. His family managed to get quarter of a million quid between them from expenses.

Then there is/was the John Lewis list where MPs can choose all manner of goodies for their second houses, not to mention all the ‘consultancy fees’ while they have a full-time job as an MP. At least the Lords don’t get paid for being in the House.

And while we’re at it, I might as well throw in the cash for questions debacle & the goverment giving seats in the House of Lords to people who have donated to the party, or offering lordships to disgraced MPs who have had to resign several times due to various indiscretions (Mandelson, among others). And it’s OK to be a convicted criminal & be in the House fo Lords (Archer).

Don’t talk to me about bloody politicians.

(I know, you didn’t)

(And of course I accept that there are lots of MPs & Lords who do the job because they truly want to make life better for us, they’re not all money-grabbing, corrupt, selfish individuals who should be in prison)

The original post can be found http://200weeks.police999.com/archives/1195

Equality of the sexes

Published on January 29, 2009 in Uncategorized. Closed

written by MadMax from Madmax's Plodcast

For years women have been claiming that they are capable of doing the same as men. Well now it seems they are right!

I have noticed that young women have been getting more violent recently. For years there have been lads who go out at night, deliberately looking for trouble. Now, it seems that there are some women who go out with the same intentions.

Call me chauvenistic, but I was taught to treat women as the fairer sex. I've lost count recently, of the number times I have had to use all my strength and UDT skills, to control some drunken fat sl*g!

Are women getting more violent, or just getting more drunk? I suspect it is the latter. However, it doesn't help when the national association for the blah blah blah, say that women are an easy target for police. I would argue the opposite. Most male coppers will probably let a women get away with more bad behaviour than a bloke, purely because they do not like laying hands on women.

I think this is a site that is going to be more common!

The original post can be found http://madmax-plodcast.blogspot.com/2009/01/equality-of-sexes.html

Today, I have been bounced off walls, thrown on the floor, tied up, handcuffed, and hit several times with a metal baton, but I’m still smiling!

Published on January 29, 2009 in Uncategorized. Closed

written by The Blue Light Run from The Blue Light Run

Every year in our force, we have to have a defensive skills refresher. You would think that refreshers are not necessary as our job dictates we get hands on fairly regularly, however I am never ceased to be amazed at how wrong i do things on the street! Although every situation is different and handcuffing is sometimes opportunist at best, I find the whole relearning of things like quarter plus one searching a godsend. It is quite frightening at how lapse you can become when you are busy, bored, tired etc. The techniques that were drilled into us can prevent injury and potentially save lives. Over the two days we are retaught handcuffing, baton techniques, UDT's, CS deployment, limb restraints, cell entry / relocation, vehicle tactics, body searching, conflict resolution etc. Teaching is conducted by two front line public order instructors who between them have 37 years street experience. This is all bread and butter stuff, but I am so glad to receive this refresher. This also means I am allowed to patrol on the front line for another year!

The original post can be found http://thebluelightrun.blogspot.com/2009/01/today-i-have-been-bounced-off-walls.html