Police or not...
- Thread starter Dave the Smeghead
- Start date
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Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
Not wasted necessarily. We used to do all sorts of things that we no longer can. We now have a list of calls we no longer answer, mainly because it is someone else's responsibility (eg lost keys, council house damage), . We used to fall over ourselves to visit every complainant and victim, whether they wanted us to or not. We even did reassurance visits afterwards as well, visiting g the neighbours of burglary victims to give advice and even upgrade their security to keep numbers down. That's all considered a luxury service we can't sustain. We're down to bare bones,and are mighty relieved the cuts arent being made deeper this year.
We no longer need all the administration and clerical function because we've persuaded the courts to work from electronic documents where they used to insist on hard copies, so officers now scan their statements and reports into courtfiles. It was a case of bureaucratic tails wagging bureaucratic dogs.
We still turn out the same number of response cops as we used to, but are constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency (hence the mobile data project I'm involved in) and are moving to a new operating model with a more efficient and streamlined investigative element. We are also looking at reducing time spent in custody.
All this is designed to keep the front line as it was,but we have had to abandon, or at least hand over our bedside manner
We no longer need all the administration and clerical function because we've persuaded the courts to work from electronic documents where they used to insist on hard copies, so officers now scan their statements and reports into courtfiles. It was a case of bureaucratic tails wagging bureaucratic dogs.
We still turn out the same number of response cops as we used to, but are constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency (hence the mobile data project I'm involved in) and are moving to a new operating model with a more efficient and streamlined investigative element. We are also looking at reducing time spent in custody.
All this is designed to keep the front line as it was,but we have had to abandon, or at least hand over our bedside manner
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
Then you have absolutely no idea what their function is. Without PCSOs we'd grind to a halt. My team was three PCSOs to one beat manager. They were better at forming relationships with partners and the community, they worked harder and more creatively, performing a community function that freed cops up to deal with crime and disorder. They were all fiercely loyal to their teams and earned and gained my utmost respect and support. They would guard scenes for hours ata time without complaint, would patrol vast rural beats in all weathers without a murmur, and were as good at diffusing certain situations armed only with a stab vest and a radio. They would run local events, work with housing and local authority employees to deal with local housing and nuisance issues, provide vital contact points and make themselves available for coffee morning and old folks lunches and clubs, read to local schoolchildren and deliver safety and drugs lessons to schools and nurseries. Plastic Plod? Youre not worthy.
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
So many think we aren't getting value because of a concerted media campaign timed to coincide with the review performed by Tom Windsor. It's no surprise that the reports of gold plated pensions and snouts in the trough came at a time when Windsor needed full support to carry through his reforms. He and the media managed to create a rift of bitter jealousy between the public and private sectors. We will feel the effects of that alone for years to come.
Thank you.
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
PCSOs are funded by local authorities and in some cases alternative funding streams. We deploy them, but don't actually employ them. Without them the community function wouldn't be carried out. If you disband PCSOs they won't be replaced by sworn officers.
I have many friends who got pensions and enjoyed benefits in the job, I did not need telling about it. There will always be a problem when the gap between private and public sector pensions are so wide.
I would still not have wanted the job
midlife
Legendary Member
Or indeed, the failure to provide equality between the public sector pension schemes.......
Shaun
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
Not just working conditions, but restrictions on private lives, having to register a business interests as manger of a local rugby team, having to have your house approved, security vetti g and not being allowed to associate with anybody with a conviction. Not playing an active part in politics. I worked 17 out of my first 21 Christmas days, have had to work hundreds of hours of overtime without pay, cancelled weekends and rest days, all the time paying 13 to 14.5 % pension.
A cop joining nowadays will have to pay 15% into a vastly reduced pension scheme and faces the prospect of working front line until age 60 plus or face dismissal under performance regs.. No thanks.
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
I'd like local authority binmen to carry out an armed anti terrorist function on Wednesdays, but it isn't what they are paid to do.
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
Not really, I'm just trying to make it clear that PCSOs perform a separate, parallel function to the police. Their role replaces some of the fluffy stuff we can no longer afford to do. Without them we wouldn't have more cops, and even if we did, they'd be back doing the (nevertheless essential) fluffy stuff. So wishing PCSOS away, or treating them with contempt is at best disingenuous, and at worst wholeheartedly ignorant.
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