Saturday 18 April 2009

T.J. HOOKER


As mentioned before I am tutoring again. Bloody hell!

Here it all starts again, someone who apparently is "ready to go" and just needs pointing in the right direction then they will be "off". What a load of hoop.

I have been with him for just under 2 weeks and it is apparent that the new localised system of police training is woefully inadequate. I remember when I went through a joint training establishment in the North of England that it was disciplined, parade every morning at 08:30 and then more or less continuous lessons or PT until 17:00. There was lots of partying but overall it was bloody hard work.

Run forwards 9 years and I am now teaching people what I supposedly know. The trouble is I actually learned what the law meant. As mentioned before I spent 15 weeks solidly learning. Speaking to my new colleagues it appears that out of their 15 weeks they seem to spend most of their time waiting for another lesson. They are farmed off to various other elements of Notgreatside police in order for them to learn in the "field". I can categorically state that it doesn't work.

I got to know my latest and asked him what he did in his previous life. He told me his story and what he had done before police school. He had a good job and lost several thousands pounds of income by joining the police. He is absolutely keen as mustard and busily types car registrations into the mobile computer in order to stop cars that may have markers on them. I can't fault him in anyway whatsoever except......his knowledge of the law. It is rubbish! I am sure it isn't his fault but the systems.

We were directed by the overseeing eyes on the city to a car that apparently had a disqualified driver. We duly stop the car and speak to the driver, he gives a name different to the one that we are expecting. My fresh colleague asks if he has any ID on him and the answer is negative. Ah well he is free to go according to my colleague. No stop, says the grizzled one, have you checked him out on PNC. I knew he hadn't and so follows the check. The name comes back as not disqualified and no wanted/missing markers. I sense something is not right and question the subject further, I ask for marks and scars and they don't match. I ask my student to caution him and he has to get his notebook out and read it verbatim. Bloody hell the caution was drummed into us at school. The offence, obstructing a police officer in the lawful execution of his duty. He looks at me blankly. The subject then decides to run and goes for it. My protege racks his baton and throws it at his legs and ......misses. TJ Hooker would have been proud! Any way put out the foot pursuit over airwaves and am re-assured that there are units nearby who will be able to assist. We are running now and I am starting to flag after about half a mile the whippet is still going strong. Oh bugger must try harder thinks me and overtakes him (I was made up!) Go round a corner and see other officers there with CS drawn, I then do a rapid turn and stop. The offender raises his arms and tries to strike the 2 with CS and the end is inevitable. A cloud of spray on a hot afternoon settling on warm, moist skin. Thankfully not mine. My ward has come charging round the corner in full flight and not being wise has also been subject to a good dosing. The driver eventually admits to being the one who is disqualified and is arrested purportedly by my colleague who is too busy coughing and spewing on the ground (he did have his mouth open and took a burst straight in the gob). Suitable aftercare is administered to both the offender and my colleague and at the end of the day job done.

This encounter reminded me of several things. When I first took to the streets I was well aware of the law but actually knew nothing. I was forewarned of the evils of CS and how to avoid it. The caution can be used as a tool because many people hear it and instantly believe that they are under arrest, they then admit to offences because they have heard it on the Bill and think they are under arrest. Many won't but it is probably 50/50. Well probably 90/10 where I work but it is always worth a try.

Anyway where was I? Yes I vaguely remember talking about the woes of not having a proper training school and stuff. The students coming through are scared of laying hands on people and subsequently people get away with all sorts of stuff they shouldn't. You hear in the media of people getting arrested for protecting their own property. Whereas my generation will do everything possible to help the victim in justifying their actions. If the last few batches coming through are indicative, I can seriously believe it, TJ Hooker aside! It appears that everyone including the police are scared of touching anyone anymore.

Will just have to keep on trying to rough up the polished edges of new officers.

This post was initially done under the affluence of incahol and it shows, sorry.

8 comments:

Hogdayafternoon said...

A sad but true tale and one that I can totally concur with from my own observations.

When did the training `regime` decide that it's not that important to be able to quote, act and sections, of the law? Its so true what you inferred, that you come out of TS knowing the law but being ignorant of its application. But the latter is learnt very quickly and the combination of TS theory and street practice makes it all work. But both are needed for the game to take place on a level(ish) playing field. Tough job, tutoring.

Area Trace No Search said...

Ah - the joys of the IPDLPSPLDPLDPD scheme.

And not knowing the caution? That would have resulted in an Early Turn parade and inspection at training school for me...

Hogdayafternoon said...

Just remembered a cracker from a proby of mine (Irish lad who went on to quite a high rank in SB). Lesson in Directing traffic. Watches PC Hogday, at one of our old traffic points, as he give the traffic warden a break for 20 mins and does necessary. Hogday: `OK mate, reckon you can give it a go`? Paddy: `I think I've got the idea about how to stop them, but how do I get them going again`? Hogday: `When they think you're not watching them, they'll go`.

Anonymous said...

So why then, cannot the "wise ones" within the force, who know how it used to work, and work well, get this basic wisdom across to the Home Office? I'm confused about this, Constable Confused!

I also have to agree about people being too scared to touch anyone anymore. That's because the government have introduced a "touch" of INSANITY into the situation and the laws of this country. It has to be blatantly barking mad, whereby we now have a situation in which kids can scream "assault" if even a parent grabs hold of them, in a normal "battle of wills".

A friend of my daughters, whose mum works for the local Police Authority, so he was clued up and sympathetic to the role the police play; told me a story of him being in the local shopping centre when a youth ran past at speed. His first instinct was to chase after him and rugby tackle him to the ground, because the two cops who were chasing the youth were slow in the chase. BECAUSE they were weighted down by stab vests and the like. He hesitated to chase the youth and help the two cops, because of the then current legal situation. He didn't want to find himself arrested and charged for assault whilst helping the cops to catch a bad boy, who was in fact too fast for them and got away.
That incident was about 3 years ago.

There was a time when the public had the confidence to help the police in situations like that. The government have UNDERMINED the confidence the public now have in the police and the legal system, because they have made so many "reforms" which have in fact made matters worse, not better.
I did hear bits on the TV from Jack Straw, saying that this situation will be put right, but not much since then. What a mess.
It really does make one wonder, if someone in government actually set out to engineer the total breakdown of family authority and society. Or if they are just plain stupid, with no common sense at all.

It wasn't that obvious C.C. that you wrote your post under the "affluence of incahol", but I can well understand the job [and life] driving you to drink! I'm sorry too, if this job has driven you to that point, where you need to numb your head at the end of the working day. You will not be the first, nor the last to resort to drink to unwind after work.

The problem is though, that alcohol is a TRAP, a snare for the soul, which will drag you down even further into depression, if you are not careful. And, if you are "confused" already, oh dear, it will make that even worse.
I don't wish to nag you, or have a go at you, but please be careful with your use of alcohol, which has ruined many good coppers, as well as MoP's, as you will no doubt already know, my friend.

Slow Deep Breaths in, and then thinking ...."shite of the day" OUT, on the out breath. Let it go.
This they should also teach in training school. Tough job, 24-7!

M.R.Officer

Dandelion said...

Scared of touching people? Tell this to the family of you-know-who.

Also, I do hope you're not saying the caution is used as a tool by way of knowingly allowing people to be misled as to its meaning?

I'm confused also about how those in the police have allowed the "training" to get so bad as you say it is.

Constable Confused.com said...

M.R Officer, a few drinks on my days off, I hope that is allowed.

Dandelion, the caution should always be used when an officer suspects that there is an offence before questioning the individual, so it is not being used to mislead at all. Whilst it is horrible what happened to you know who I am talking about situations where there is only one or two officers in normal uniform who will endure being pushed and prodded about after being called to an incident.

I don't know how they excuse the training being inadequate. Some of our student officers have complained about the training system. I hope it does some good.

Regards.

Vetnurse said...

I think the lack of training is just around in life in general.

I was brought up that if you want to vote then you behave like an adult. The radio had a young persons award winner on last night and the person was 23. To me they are not young that is under 16.
They are just adults but excuses are always being made.

Anonymous said...

Constable Confused, Yes, that is "allowed." Not that I could stop you! Everything in moderation works best, and a few beers cannot do too much harm, hopefully. It's the hard stuff one needs to be wary of....And daily boozing, which leads to addiction and ruin.

Regards

M.R.Officer