Train Driver applying for Police Specials

[Wilko5816]

I am a qualified train driver and have the go ahead from my current TOC to join the Police Specials. Wondering what people’s thoughts were on here? Secondly do you think being a special will affect prospects of applying to other TOC’s and them less likely to employee me as I have a secondary volunteer role.

Many thanks

 

[Red1980]

Can't see it being an issue when all the police ask for is a minimum of 4 hours a week. As long as it's not affecting hidden etc I'm sure most TOCs would see it as a positive.

 

[Sharp Boy]

go for it. i was a special with the btp for 10 years. I loved every moment of it.
The BTP pinned 3 medals on my for services rendered

You see people at their worst and at their best.
I would say it would increase your chances of progressing with the rail environment.
It teaches team work. dealing with difficult people, customer service skills, problem solving skills and will stretch you.

an old boss of mine from my regualr job once said to me "... I dont know what those btp people are feeding you, but get it bottled and bring some of it in here"... i think that was feedback enough

Good luck!!!!

 

[bionic]

It's interesting that while coppers are leaving the police in droves to work on the railway (and telling everyone how much they hated being a copper), that someone already working on the railway would volunteer to do police tasks in their spare time!

From personal experience of knowing people in the police and ex-police, I don't know why anyone would want to be a copper for free. If I had a few hours a week to give up for volunteering I can think of more helpful and constructive ways of spending it than being a "Hobby Bobby".

Maybe they could start recruiting "special" train drivers to come in and do our jobs for nothing while cutting full time staff at record levels like the government have been doing to the police.

That said, I don't think it would harm your railway career (apart from the obvious fatigue risk) and might make your CV stand out to potential future employers. However if you are looking to change TOC in future I'd suggest that keeping a clean record, brushing up on your rules and traction and going up as a DI would be better ways of improving your prospects.

 

[Stigy]

It's interesting that while coppers are leaving the police in droves to work on the railway (and telling everyone how much they hated being a copper), that someone already working on the railway would volunteer to do police tasks in their spare time!

From personal experience of knowing people in the police and ex-police, I don't know why anyone would want to be a copper for free. If I had a few hours a week to give up for volunteering I can think of more helpful and constructive ways of spending it than being a "Hobby Bobby".

Maybe they could start recruiting "special" train drivers to come in and do our jobs for nothing while cutting full time staff at record levels like the government have been doing to the police.

That said, I don't think it would harm your railway career (apart from the obvious fatigue risk) and might make your CV stand out to potential future employers. However if you are looking to change TOC in future I'd suggest that keeping a clean record, brushing up on your rules and traction and going up as a DI would be better ways of improving your prospects.

It’s completely different volunteering as a Special than it is being paid to police for the following reasons;

• There’s no off-putting salary
• You can do as much or as little as you want in terms of hours (within reason)
• You can actually do POLICE work
• You can be a PC without having to sacrifice a job you love
• You can join for the buzz of policing
• You can help people in their darkest hour
• It’s great for life experience and the CV.

I volunteer as a Community First Responder for the Ambulance Service. It’s great for transferable experiences and the CV, plus you get to help people and potentially save lives, but I’d never join the Ambulance Service as paid staff for many of the same reasons people are leaving the Police in their droves. The money is rubbish, the hours are rubbish and morale is at an all time low.

I’d certainly consider being a Special, but would never join up as a regular in the current climate.

 

[C J Snarzell]

Hi mate

I'm an ex-cop and towards the end of my career I was close to a breakdown. The police is probably one of the most stressful jobs in the UK. The life a beat bobby is totally different than it was in my dad's generation in the 70s and 80s. The policing priority these days is safeguarding and dealing with our most vulnerable members of society. You are basically doing the job of other organisations such as social services and the mental health system most of the time and this used to frustrate me no end.

I'm totally biased about the police these days because of the impact it had on my health. As for being a special - GO FOR IT!!! As another forum member has highlighted, specials don't get bogged down with the red tape of the job and you are not carrying your own caseload. It is definitely worth doing just to get some life experience and evidence skills that you can add to your CV. As a tip, I would fine a particular shift of people you can work with and establish yourself with them. As a long term goal, I would think about getting to know the sergeants and the inspector and potentially ask them if they would provide a reference for any future jobs you want to apply for. Like I said, this is only a suggestion and you really need to put yourself out there by getting involved with incidents before you even think about asking them.

As a final point, PLEASE give it careful consideration if you are looking at joining the regulars. I worked with a number of specials of the years and a lot of them were not interested in joining the regulars. One bloke was a Project Manager and he was earning more than the Superintendent in his own career! He worked as a special about three shifts a month just as a kind of hobby as he was a bit of an adrenalin junkie.

I hope my post has been of some use.

Regards

C J

 

[MostlyHarmless]

Hi mate

I'm an ex-cop and towards the end of my career I was close to a breakdown. The police is probably one of the most stressful jobs in the UK. The life a beat bobby is totally different than it was in my dad's generation in the 70s and 80s. The policing priority these days is safeguarding and dealing with our most vulnerable members of society. You are basically doing the job of other organisations such as social services and the mental health system most of the time and this used to frustrate me no end.

I'm totally biased about the police these days because of the impact it had on my health. As for being a special - GO FOR IT!!! As another forum member has highlighted, specials don't get bogged down with the red tape of the job and you are not carrying your own caseload. It is definitely worth doing just to get some life experience and evidence skills that you can add to your CV. As a tip, I would fine a particular shift of people you can work with and establish yourself with them. As a long term goal, I would think about getting to know the sergeants and the inspector and potentially ask them if they would provide a reference for any future jobs you want to apply for. Like I said, this is only a suggestion and you really need to put yourself out there by getting involved with incidents before you even think about asking them.

As a final point, PLEASE give it careful consideration if you are looking at joining the regulars. I worked with a number of specials of the years and a lot of them were not interested in joining the regulars. One bloke was a Project Manager and he was earning more than the Superintendent in his own career! He worked as a special about three shifts a month just as a kind of hobby as he was a bit of an adrenalin junkie.

I hope my post has been of some use.

Regards

C J

Plus 1 for this.

I've been a Special for nearly 10 years and I really enjoy it - I have done driving courses (inc blues) and PSU (Public Order) and do pretty much all the stuff as a regular, but there's no way I'd join as one (regular) in today's climate. Being a Special can be very rewarding and you'll get out of it what you put in to it. It will enhance or give you new life skills, many of which will be valued by a future employer.

Go for it!

 

[MrPIC]

Personally I'd join the military reserves rather than specialing, got to be more interesting plus you actually get paid!

 

[Gooner18]

5 years a SC here , go for it but not in the Met

 

[Eccles1983]

Decide what you want to be. A train driver or a cop. You realistically can't have both.

As an ex cop I would say specials are as much use as a chocolate fire guard.

Train driving is difficult, especially when you are new to it. Decide what is more important, being a part cop or full time driver.

Despite what the above say you can't have both.

 

[Stigy]

Decide what you want to be. A train driver or a cop. You realistically can't have both.

As an ex cop I would say specials are as much use as a chocolate fire guard.

Train driving is difficult, especially when you are new to it. Decide what is more important, being a part cop or full time driver.

Despite what the above say you can't have both.

Rubbish.

I’d say it’s true for the duration of the training and maybe even when newly qualified, but certainly possible once you have yourself established, as has been seen time and time again. Your attitude against specials speaks volumes to be honest. You’re entitled to your opinion of course, but there are good and bad in all walks of life. I’ve seen some frankly useless regular police officers, and some outstanding specials.

 

[Ducatist4]

The problem with joining the Army Reserves is that you’ve got no flexibility as to when you put your days in. It’ll be one evening a week plus some weekends (Friday evening to Sunday afternoon) so it doesn’t really fit too well with railway shift patterns. A specialist unit is better as you do less days and no drill nights. Think it’s 19 days (weekends) plus a two week camp to qualify for your bounty.
I was in the RE for seven years. Loved every second of it!

 

[C J Snarzell]

Eccles1983

I'm ex-police as well and like Stigy said there are some good and bad specials - but of course there are good and bad regular cops too!!!

I used to joke when I was in the job myself that a crime report had to be submitted for certain officers - such as stealing a living or theft of oxygen!!!

One or two specials I came across over the years where 'dangerous' and I used to dread having to work with them. One ex-special was basically an over grown bully boy who had a reputation for hitting people once he been winding them up and antagonising them! Thankfully the force got rid of him in the end as he gave one too many people a pasting!

Then there was a female regular officer on my old shift who was one of the laziest people I ever worked with! She was the type of officer who deliberately let other cops get to jobs first so she didn't need to get her pen out! She was also frightened of confrontation and had anxiety issues which meant she could never patrol on her own and had to be paired up with someone else. Again when she was paired up, the other officer did all the work. I refused to work with her because of her laziness. The sergeant and inspector were at their wits end with her and tried to action plan her but she played the welfare and grievance card and eventually was assigned to work in a desk role where she just answered a phone and worked 8am - 4pm. This officer is taking home nearly 40k a year!!! Someone doing a similar desk job in the private sector will only be earning minimum wage.

I do think specials get slightly criticised from one or two regular cops but you have to remember that these people are volunteers and don't get the same level of training as a regular officer but are still going to dangerous incidents and putting their lives at risk.

Enough said.

 

[johnlh]

I do think specials get slightly criticised from one or two regular cops but you have to remember that these people are volunteers and don't get the same level of training as a regular officer but are still going to dangerous incidents and putting their lives at risk.

Enough said.

This is part of the problem. These people are being put in the same uniform and expected to deal with the same jobs as regulars. When I used to get posted with some specials I may as well of had a random member of the public sat next to me. I have to look after them whilst dealing with the public. I’ve got nothing against specials but the job sends them out massively unprepared for the realities of policing that being said I worked with a few who were great.

Also, bare in mind that being a special can affect your real job and your life. If you're unfortunate enough to be involved in a death in a custody (rare) or go to a domestic where someone is subsequently killed you will be treated the same as the regular police who attended. Your actions will investigated for years and be dragged through the courts for months on end.

The police are constantly under a microscope, you can end up on YouTube being vilified for doing your job getting judged by the public about incidents they know nothing about. This stuff will affect your home life. I’m not trying to put you off, it’s just something to consider.

 

[C J Snarzell]

The Microscope effect is very very chilling and I have to use the phrase 'dammed if you do and dammed if you don't!'

I was subject to a IPCC investigation following a domestic murder. I had no involvement in the actual murder, but I had the misfortune of dealing with the killer years before when he had subjected his previous partner to domestic violence. Every single reported incident involving the murder suspect was scrutinised by the IPCC and it took them about three years to finalise their case which was two years after the bloke was convicted.

Fortunately, no blame was pointed at anything I had done but other officers were given management advice and written warnings for the way they had dealt with things. If I said this whole thing didn't effect me I would be lying - I had sleepless nights and had 'off' days every now and again.

This was what put the first few nails in my coffin and I knew I had to get out of the service eventually because the job was getting more and more ridiculous with people being hung out to dry. Another cop I know was subject to a misconduct hearing for using excessive force on a prisoner and the prisoner himself never even complained!?!?! The original complaint was made by the Custody Sergeant who is now a Chief Inspector. The misconduct hearing came to nothing as it was absolute nonscence and the cop has now left the police service himself since (probably feeling just as disillusioned as I was!)

Going back to the original thread - there are some rewards to being a special and I would certainly give it a go.

On the division I was on - some of the specials would generally parade on with their special sergeant and go out together which I think worked better than being paired up with a regular cop.

Please be mindful that certain regular supervisors in the police will use and abuse specials in favour of their own regular staff. One sergeant would always use specials to cover crime scenes, do hospital watch (sat with prisoners or mental health patients) or constant observations in custody. These tasks go on for hours and although necessary are extremely soul destroying! The sergeant in question left one special constable on his own covering a crime scene for 13 hours! The poor special only went home at 3am and was back in for his day job as a teacher later that day. Completely out of order so please be aware of this!!!!

As the thin blue line is so stretched, sergeants and inspectors will maximise what little resources they do have and use a special constable for the boring mundane stuff like this as it frees up an experienced officer to be deployed elsewhere.

The special teacher I referred to eventually left his role as a special because he was simply being used and abused like this regularly and wasn't learning anything from his time as a special constable.

Don't let this put you off though, just be mindful it goes on and try to wise up to it.

C J