tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89293030845258884152024-02-19T09:34:06.298+00:00Constableconfused.comConstable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-77442221950808959612010-03-08T14:09:00.002+00:002010-03-08T14:47:36.643+00:00<a href="http://www.rotaryaction.com/images/budgietlh.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 195px; height: 180px;" src="http://www.rotaryaction.com/images/budgietlh.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Despite the best efforts of certain annoying people you may be pleased to know that I have not killed myself. My only wish is that if anyone who was reading my blog and in a similar situation did not allow a certain persons comments affect their life to any great degree. I would hate to be Pete knowing that he may have driven some poor soul to suicide due to his obvious dislike for me.<br /><br />Anyway moving on, in spite of my apparent genetic failings, my new job finds me in a world of equipment that equates to a computer for a caveman(just getting my head around it now). It, unfortunately, removes me from my former role of street policing (on my own for the most) one of the gun crime capitals of the UK.<br /><br />I increasingly find myself removed from day to day policing which I thought I would never do. I find myself in an insular world where we can provide so much help to officers on the ground but not actually get involved.<br /><br />In light of this I now find myself in a position of not being able to provide any material worthy of blogging about. I could tell you about suspect searches and vehicle pursuits but the actual feelings and emotions of being on the ground just aren't there anymore. <br /><br />I will still be around and available on e-mail but unless something dramatic happens I won't be posting anymore.<br /><br />Thank you for your comments, it makes me realise just how rewarding an open forum can be. I will continue to read other blogs and comment when I feel it necessary.<br /><br />Incase anyone feels a certain sense of glee and achievement over this I would like them to remember that if a government witch hunt last year couldn't put me off there is no way that someone with the DNA of a dried up mouse poo ever could. I simply feel that the police who are still there 24/7, on the streets, have better material than me.<br /><br />Regards.Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-3710888419378191112010-01-26T16:53:00.004+00:002010-01-26T19:47:19.572+00:00Male domestic violence<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Vr8Xl0cbUZA/SWBciO4WWJI/AAAAAAAAFi0/Gxm30JQmzmw/s400/Image+%3D+Female_Domestic+violence_Male+victim.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 350px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Vr8Xl0cbUZA/SWBciO4WWJI/AAAAAAAAFi0/Gxm30JQmzmw/s400/Image+%3D+Female_Domestic+violence_Male+victim.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />This may be my last post but I cannot confirm this at this time.<br /><br />It is quite strange being empowered by the Queen to use various powers and procedures to achieve your role but at the same time enduring situations at home which you would not allow whilst on duty.<br /><br />For those who have not guessed I am currently going slowly through the process of divorce. I have 2 daughters who I see what could best be described as infrequently but do get to speak to twice a week (they are approx 140 miles away now).<br /><br />It is strange that you all too often get sent to deal with domestic disputes that involve...... well really nothing at all. He drank x amount and told me to do this or just the general situation where the 2 mutants you are dealing with lack the social skills to be able to deal with the everyday demands of normal life. Strange that you then go home to an environment where you find yourself in a similar position. I am not calling myself or my ex wife a mutant by the way. <br /><br />How many times have you stood on the front doorstep with the key in your hand wondering what was going to greet you when you opened the door? All this after a 10 hour shift dealing with the great unwashed and their problems.<br />It is strange to walk into the house to find that the person you rely upon most heavily has done nothing but spend all her time on face book/bebo/twitter or any other communal website that you can think of. Especially when you learn that this person has been planning to leave you for some time and actually set up a date with someone on their Open University course in Blackpool. Someone has dared to post an unpleasant comment about your partner and all of a sudden you come home from a world of shit into another world of shit. In this job there is a popular saying which goes something along the lines of if home life is shit but work is good you can cope. If home life is good and work is shit you can cope as well. If both are shit well you are well F$*cked. It is true.<br /><br />I will make no pretence of being perfect. I am probably the furthest example from perfect you could find. I used to drink too much (strangely enough don’t anymore), I smoke and used to long for time on my own without wife/kids demanding attention at midnight hence late night or early morning comments on various blogs.<br />I won’t go into the details about my relationship other than the walls bear numerous scars from temper fuelled outbursts from my former wife, I carry scars that would have (if officially crimed) led to her being placed through the courts. Coming home from nights at 7 A.M and having to wait up to get the kids to school or fed so that my “wife” could have a lie in (even when the kids had been asleep since 8 pm).....please. At the end of the day my oldest daughter (9) now has a secret message that allows me to tell if it is her or my ex who is texting me. No doubt that will go out the window shortly. <br />It is strange how people’s perspectives and attitudes change. Despite admitting that she was an abuser, now that she has moved away she now deems it necessary to find an alternative reason for the breakdown of our marriage. As per a late comment on my last post I am now accused of being adulterous. I wish, I am 40, fat and balding.<br />At the end of the day as a Police Officer I am willing to admit that I was subjected to domestic violence. I put up with it because I loved the person but one Thursday morning at about 8 A.M. whilst being attacked I nearly struck back. That was when I realised the end had come. No-one should be in an abusive relationship whether you are male or female. To be told after 13 years of marriage and 15 years of being with this person that they have been looking for an excuse to leave you is totally devastating. I would like to make it clear that the behaviour has totally turned off any feelings that I had and all I feel now is scorn and dislike.<br /><br />The abusers always make up lies to cover their actions. <br /><br />If this applies to any other male/female accept that it can happen to you. You allow it to because of love but is it really what you want?<br /><br />This post is totally anonymous I hope, if it comes back to bite me in a court I will stand my ground. Suffice to say that I am no longer on the ground whilst in work.<br /><br />All in all I will say that happiness after everything does come from the most unexpected places. Thank you, you know who you are.<br /><br />Regards.Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-81572603551937011752009-12-16T22:43:00.002+00:002009-12-16T22:57:40.889+00:00Why do I work again?<a href="http://www.dubsession.com/images/AlbumArt/UB40%20-%20Present%20Arms%20in%20Dub.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.dubsession.com/images/AlbumArt/UB40%20-%20Present%20Arms%20in%20Dub.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />At this current moment in time I find myself shelving out huge sums of money to a solicitor to act on my behalf. (A civil matter not a criminal one by the way). Why? <br /><br />If I changed uniform to a tracksuit or simply couldn't be bothered getting off Facebook or Bebo or whatever social network group that the state pays you money for Internet access, I would not have to pay such extortionate fees. Maybe I should get out of work and see where life takes me, perhaps not eh?<br /><br />I see many such people who are "entitled" to free legal advice. Admittedly the system has been supposedly streamlined or "fast tracked" over the last few years but why do the life sucking dross that are the mainstay of many solicitors get it all for nothing?<br /><br />I have worked solidly since I was 18. If I had remained in the RAF I would have retired on November 25th after 22 years service. Instead, I find myself with mounting legal costs and no easy way out.<br /><br />Think into this what you will but a number of you will guess what it means.<br /><br /><br />Regards.Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-37897647402730301802009-11-27T22:14:00.003+00:002009-11-27T22:23:18.569+00:00Life's changes.<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2328/2274726365_84bc5f0dd3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2328/2274726365_84bc5f0dd3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I am still here in the background.<br /><br />There have been dramatic changes in my life which are not something to air on the public forum.<br /><br />Business shall be resumed once I can drag myself out of the doldrums.<br /><br />Regards.Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-77264841524599664462009-09-04T15:02:00.002+01:002009-09-04T15:09:18.949+01:00Oh my god!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.clipartguide.com/_named_clipart_images/0511-0901-1102-5619_Flying_Pig_Wearing_Goggles_clipart_image.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 331px;" src="http://www.clipartguide.com/_named_clipart_images/0511-0901-1102-5619_Flying_Pig_Wearing_Goggles_clipart_image.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />For those of you that know me you will be aware that I have been going through an application process.<br /><br />I found out today that after 5 months of selection processes I am unfortunatley suitable for the job.<br /><br />I bloody well passed and am now looking forward to serious pastures new. Still a police officer but ............ providing I pass the course, not a real one anymore.<br /><br />Thanks for all you messages of support.Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-12605924621478614802009-09-01T16:36:00.003+01:002009-09-01T17:22:59.549+01:00Three weeks in.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.police.govt.nz/resources/2006/taser-trial/images/taser.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 399px; height: 224px;" src="http://www.police.govt.nz/resources/2006/taser-trial/images/taser.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />The travesty of justice has officially been on the streets of Notgreatside for the last 3 weeks. I am a common or garden response officer and I have been out on the streets with a taser for that time. <br />It is a pain in the arse. Firstly they issued us with different belts to ensure that they couldn't be removed by offenders easily. Now depending on where I buy my clothes from I am either a 34 or 36 inch waist. I thought 36" just to be safe. Not sure who makes the belts but they obviously have different scales on their tape measures than the rest of us. Very last hole and that is a squeeze sometimes, no more fatty foods for me and no they can't issue me with another one yet as they have been specially ordered.<br />There is the rigmarole of being issued with a yellow piece of plastic and 3 cartridges, I handled firearms for 11 years whilst in the forces and am intimately familiar with load and unload drills and actually using weapons. I don't need someone who has never handled a weapon to tell me what to do. Weapon safety is drilled into me and has been since 1987. It is also a pain when you finish late not to have a duly "authorised" sergeant around to "unload" the taser, I have incurred overtime waiting to hand the bloody thing back!<br />It gets in the way when you get in the car, right where the seatbelt needs to go, just another piece of kit to fill my already full belt.<br /><br />Does it work though........oh bloody hell yes. The scrotes notice it immediately, they are well used to the police and all the stuff normally carried. They pick up immediately on the bright yellow piece of plastic and not surprisingly ask "is that real". My stock answer is no it's a dummy just like you are for asking the question. I have only drawn it on one occassion and "red dotted" someone. It worked instantly stopping him in his tracks and avoiding yet another cocaine and alcohol fuelled fight which would have surely ensued. Incidentally, why do families always fight and argue at christenings, weddings etc?<br /><br />In short and from an officer who is using one whilst not being part of a specialized team. It is a pain, more kit, procedure and writing. It has already in my experience stopped a situation dead in it's tracks and prevented a prolonged struggle. It is a deterrent and also a statement of purpose. It hasn't changed the way I work, my mouth is still my biggest tool and long may it remain so. What it does is provide another avenue of non-verbal communication which in my still limited experience has proved effective.<br /><br />To all the people protesting against human rights issues what would you prefer? A subject who has momentarily been in fear of being tasered and calming down and not being injured or the police actually using force against him to achieve their aim and him suffering injuries. It is a double edged sword but it is helping in a small way to gain some sort of control in the area where I work.<br /><br />I await the criticism.<br /><br />Incidentally have completed all the stages for my application and am now on tenterhooks awaiting the outcome of the final interview.Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-2050178891732666392009-08-21T16:57:00.002+01:002009-08-21T17:02:04.766+01:00Still here.I am still here, thank you for your questions and concern but just seem to have bigger things on my mind at the mo'.<br /><br />Regards.Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-23196445192157180562009-07-31T11:28:00.002+01:002009-07-31T11:35:42.923+01:00Winging it.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/commercials/2008/8/tac-cell.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 515px; height: 295px;" src="http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/commercials/2008/8/tac-cell.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />It is not often that I find myself stuck in a situation where there is apparently no resolution. I found myself in such a situation on Sunday.<br /><br />A bit of history, I was called two weeks ago to an establishment that assists people who have conditions that require some counselling in order for themselves to determine their route in life. I attended the establishment after one of their residents made a really good effort of hanging himself. He pulled the cord from the rear of his television and somehow using the window nearly completed the job. Fortunately staff intervened and his attempt was foiled.<br />He was assessed by the duty crisis team and once the effects of alcohol had worn off they deemed his demeanour to not be one of someone likely to harm himself. <br />His background, well his father committed suicide approximately two years ago once the onset of his condition started taking over his life. My subject, let’s call him X is twenty something years old and has also been diagnosed with the condition. His sister also has the condition but she has come to terms with it.<br />His condition is <a href="http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/huntingtons_disease.html">Huntington’s disease</a>. I had heard of it previously but didn’t know what it was. X has seen his father deteriorate and take his own life. He knows the symptoms and the end result. He doesn’t want to end up like his dad but due to the hereditary nature of the disease he IS going to.<br />Anyway, Sunday, he receives a family visit which doesn’t go well. Following that he expresses his desire to end his life again and wants to go out. Staff have seen a pattern emerging in his behaviour. He talks about positive and negative things whilst sober, once he has had a drink he doesn’t talk but tries to take his own life. He has admitted that it is only after he has been drinking the suicide attempts start and last Sunday he wanted to go drinking. The staff don’t have the powers necessary to detain him but understandably they are doing everything they can not to let him go out. The situation escalates and the verbal arguments become verbal threats from X. The duty manager left with no options and fearing for the safety of X and his staff calls the police. He states that he wants the male detained under S.136.<br />A sceptical Constableconfused arrives and after a quick background from staff goes to speak to X. He finds X sitting in a chair smoking, very calm, very collected and talking a lot of sense. Definitely not a 136 case. He tells me all about his problems in a calm, controlled and informed matter and that he is a voluntary patient and as such wants to leave. When asked what his intentions are he tells me he is going to get drunk and try to kill himself for the reasons outlined above. His reasoning can’t be faulted; he is in control of himself and provides what is really quite a good reason for ending his life. He apologises to staff and to me for wasting our time but once again expresses his desire to leave and get drunk. I have no reason to detain him but now have a duty of care. If I let him walk and he does the deed how much poo will I be in. I manage to speak on the telephone to one of the CPN’s who last saw him on Friday and they state he is in no way mentally disturbed, confused about which life choice to take certainly but not in need of mental health care. He is starting to become irate now and once again offers violence if he is not allowed to leave. I then lock him up on the tenuous grounds of preventing a breach of the peace. That way he won’t be drinking anyway.<br />The trip to custody follows with me justifying the grounds for the arrest in my head all the way. I relate the circumstances to the custody sergeant who looks at me with some strange looks before authorising detention for a “BOP”. He knows me and my methods so will no doubt ask me for a full update once the “prisoner” goes for processing. I subsequently provide the full background to him and the Inspector who has now turned up and acknowledge that my arrest is probably unlawful but what else could I do? The Inspector sums it up nicely by saying yes it is unlawful and he may get paid a couple of thousand if he pursues the matter but I can’t be criticised for my actions. My actions I perceived were entirely in the best interests of X.<br />The next problem, how do we get out of this mess? He is clearly not a matter for the courts but also can’t languish in a cell for too long. The “home” is no longer interested stating that they will have no network available until 9 a.m. the next morning to progress this. It is just after 6 p.m. now so they are no help. In effect they have washed their hands of him for the night. I visit the crisis team in Notgreatside County Hospital who state that they are aware of X and believe that he will one day kill himself but he is undecided at the moment. Great help. I ask them for assistance but they say there is nothing they can do. Tick Tock goes the custody clock.<br />My mobile rings and it is custody stating that the male has been on the intercom apologising for his actions and asking if he can go back. He states that he is now at what he perceived to be rock bottom and sees the home as a much better option. He is seen by the FME and she spends over an hour talking with him. At the end she recommends he be released once she has a stern word with the home. This is duly done and X gets changed from his safety gown back into his normal clothes.<br />He is refused charge for the BOP and I take him back. On the way he is a different character, he has taken a shine to the doctor and asks which practice she is with. He talks about remaining in Notgreatside and resuming his college studies which were interrupted several years ago.<br />I drop him back at the home and hand him over to staff, as he entered he turned and looked at me nodding before jokingly (I hope) says “SAME TIME NEXT WEEK”? I drive away wondering what the hell has happened during the last few hours. My conclusion was that there are supposedly partner agencies everywhere that are there to assist during incidents such as these but at 6 p.m. on a Sunday night there really isn’t anyone. I winged it, playing it by ear. I was backed up by Sgt’s and the Inspector and also the FME. Between us we resolved a situation that we really had no part in but were the first to get called.<br />How many similar situations do you find yourselves in? The first port of call for many people even though we shouldn’t be.<br /><br />By the way, did you know it is not an offence to commit suicide but if you try and fail, it then becomes one. Apparently!Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-20254935081688341472009-07-20T22:02:00.002+01:002009-07-20T22:08:34.175+01:00Just for amusement.<span style="font-weight:bold;">Our lager, which art in barrels.<br />Hallowed be thy drink,<br />Thy will be drunk, (I will be drunk)<br />At home as it is in the tavern.<br />Give us this day our foamy head<br />and forgive us our spillage. <br />As we forgive those who spill against us.<br />Lead us not into incarceration but deliver us from hangovers.<br />For thine is the beer, <br />The bitter and the lager,<br />Forever and forever<br />Barmen.<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br />Just been sent this and it seemeed quite amusing as I have started rest days.<br /><br />Regards.Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-55426609294581058292009-07-19T11:30:00.002+01:002009-07-19T11:38:04.732+01:00Sergeant Simon.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.policeauctionsuk.co.uk/police_auction_images/police_badge.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 180px;" src="http://www.policeauctionsuk.co.uk/police_auction_images/police_badge.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I have never read any of Sgt Simon's postings and must regrettably say I have been lax.<br /><br />I have just read his profile and thi sums it all up nicely I think. I really couldn't have worded it better.<blockquote>A police sergeant on a response team in the outskirts of a major UK city. Response teams are the only people in the police who don’t have a remit, who have to deal with everything. We are the whipping boys and girls who work all hours with all sorts of targets and guidelines issued by office living senior management who, from my point of view, sometimes seem to have forgotten most of the realities of the 24hr response jockey. I work on the starfish principle in policing. For those who don’t know that story, its the boy walking on a beach where a storm tide has washed up thousands of starfish, which are slowly dying. As he walks, he picks up one starfish after another and throws it back to the water. A man sees this and asks why does he bother, as he could never make a difference to all the thousands stranded. The boy doesn’t break stride as he picks up another and throws it back. “It made a difference to that one”, he replied. Thats the way I work. I know I’ll never make a difference on a grand scale, but I’ll make a difference to an individual by doing each job properly each time it comes round, whether or not it complies with what I'm told I must do.</blockquote><br /><br />This sums it up nicely, a police officer who still has his own mind, long may we survive.<br /><br />My social experiment from my last post has concluded and the positive outweighed the negative.<br /><br />Regards.Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-91023983625780995202009-07-09T18:44:00.005+01:002009-07-09T19:18:18.815+01:00The STD's of the blogging world.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.visit4info.com/sitecontent/LG/fullZZZZZZTVB040905023120PIC.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://www.visit4info.com/sitecontent/LG/fullZZZZZZTVB040905023120PIC.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I have heard that canestan, liberally applied along with a tablet if necessary, can take away all annoyances. I have done this regularly and now have a very smeared laptop screen which sometimes makes it illegible. The tablet has made my DVD drive now inoperable.<br /><br />In spite of this some people just continue to cause an irritation, Now Metcounty has left one of his irritations appears to have latched onto me, direct quote:<br /><blockquote>Anonymous Pete said...<br /><br /> CUNTstable Stupid ... or whatever it is you call yourself, on a noe-to-one I would say that I would come away thinking that I have shit harder things than you.<br /><br /> You gutless wanker.</blockquote><br /><br />Thank you, he didn't even post it on a recent item, just kind of sneaked it in on one that no-one would be reading <a href="http://constableconfused.blogspot.com/2009/06/for-fc-sake.html">anymore</a>.<br /><br />Constructive criticism is always welcome and will be answered accordingly. However amateurish, boorish comments will be ridiculed, scoffed at and if they present spelling mistakes openly published to highlight what a dickhead the person is.<br /><br />Thanks Pete, it took me a week or so to find this comment and when you challenged me to a noe-to-one (spelt as per comment) with you, I couldn't help but chuckle. By the way do you think you are the first to change my name to that? It is so well used it actually makes you look like one if you choose to look further than the end of your nose and read other blogs.<br /><br />All in all Pete, thank you for a chuckle and I really can't wait for the next installment.<br /><br />For those who doubt me check out comment 27 on the post highlighted.Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-65250334019773096542009-06-30T18:55:00.004+01:002009-06-30T19:05:11.065+01:00Just to re-assure those who worry.No picture, no grand speak or anything. If someone breaks into your house you can if necessary, do <a href="http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Pensioner-Batters-Burglar-In-Oxfordshire-Gregory-McCalium-Jailed-For-Four-And-A-Half-Years/Article/200906415325104?lpos=UK_News_First_UK_News_Article_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15325104_Pensioner_Batters_Burglar_In_Oxfordshire%3A_Gregory_McCalium_Jailed_For_Four_And_A_Half_Years">this </a> no matter what human rights say. <a href="http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Pensioner-Gwyneth-Davies-86-Tackles-Burglar-In-Merthyr-Tydfil-South-Wales-With-Her-Crutch/Article/200904315262803?lpos=UK_News_Article_Related_Content_Region_2&lid=ARTICLE_15262803_Pensioner_Gwyneth_Davies%2C_86%2C_Tackles_Burglar_In_Merthyr_Tydfil%2C_South_Wales%2C_With_Her_Crutch">Here</a> is another example if you don't believe me. The object that often causes problems is what is reasonable. These both were, and the outcome was positive.<br /><br />All I can say is a good piece of "bobbying" from the officers who first attended. Well done and long may it continue!Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-56455127472978231522009-06-25T22:09:00.002+01:002009-06-25T22:17:30.598+01:00Still here.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/images/xclaimpt.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 540px;" src="http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/images/xclaimpt.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Sorry for the lack of posting,<br /><br />had other things to do and been a bit busy. Through the second round and got to learn how to do "jobspeak" now.<br /><br />There will be more, I was mad in 2004 and diagnosed as so, can always go the same way again if I'm "outed".<br /><br />Will post more when I can. Nothing to do with being afraid of posting by the way, it's a time factor thing.<br /><br />Regards.Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-55887096286309761122009-06-16T23:14:00.002+01:002009-06-16T23:28:01.229+01:00For F$%c&s sake.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/ces2002-taser.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/ces2002-taser.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />How much pain can someone c?ked of his tits take? About <a href="http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/video/Trent-FMs-footage-of-dramatic-arrest-in-Nottingham-city-centre-police-use-taser-gun-on-man/Video/200906315306893?lpos=video_First_UK_News_Article_Teaser_Region_0&lid=VIDEO_15306893_Trent_FMs_footage_of_dramatic_arrest_in_Nottingham_city_centre_police_use_taser_gun_on_man._">this</a> much.<br /><br />I am due Taser training in a couple of weeks if and if it goes wrong the subject will get Tasered, kicked, punched or whatever else is necessary to lock them up! I'm not hard, solid or anything and incidentally no, I didn't get bullied at school. If the Police tell you to stop doing something.......stop, we are a bigger gang than you and can carry toys which you can't, legitimately. I have used all options open to me over the years including breaking peoples bones and more than one KO. I'm not proud of that but I am proud to wear the uniform. I will continue to operate the same way if I stay on the streets and will make no apologies for that.<br /><br />You may be reading about me on Sky news one day if it all ends up with the IPCC.Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-50255755224116898452009-06-14T21:56:00.003+01:002009-06-14T22:27:57.943+01:00Like a pig in ..........<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yyAtx_NKwXDPMFT11JY2SkhTyZIJhXR29PuZzyiuhGaBSo2t1HDS0_XDDiy_GODPLfJL5nAVtL8L3V4Cn7Hil_yBc9x-6r_Q6tDJaSzSkZIA8qzNPd08L1Gh2PYuqI0rH23wAmwVuQJb/s320/pig.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yyAtx_NKwXDPMFT11JY2SkhTyZIJhXR29PuZzyiuhGaBSo2t1HDS0_XDDiy_GODPLfJL5nAVtL8L3V4Cn7Hil_yBc9x-6r_Q6tDJaSzSkZIA8qzNPd08L1Gh2PYuqI0rH23wAmwVuQJb/s320/pig.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Well,<br /><br />sorry for being more than absent for a good while. Some may say good riddance and they would probably be right. I have actually had a rather splendid couple of weeks. Following the nightmare application scenario bizarrely enough I actually passed the first stage. (No-one more surprised than me)! Thank you <a href="http://benefitscroungingscum.blogspot.com/">BG</a> for your positive e-mails, not just you but <a href="http://sierracharlie.wordpress.com/">SC</a> ,<a href="http://behindblueeyes.co.uk/">BE</a> ,<a href="http://veterinarynursing.blogspot.com/">VN</a> and <a href="http://hogday-afternoon.blogspot.com/">Mr HD</a> , this is just to name a few. You really have been supportive and positive even when I haven't been. Thank you.<br /><br />Anyway you all know or have guessed what I am looking to progress/regress to and who knows what will happen? The next 5 stages depend on me, not just random persons deciding.<br /><br />The last 2 weeks I have not been on response I have been attached to a unit that does nothing but enforce vehicle crime. I have for the first time had live access to ANPR and dealt with nothing except Road Traffic Act offenders and vehicle crime matters. I haven't worked a night shift, I haven't generated any crime reports but what I have done is take 20 or so cars off the road from uninsured/unlicensed drivers. Yes, I have also dealt with more than a few motorists who have been on their mobile despite there being a big f-off marked up Vectra alongside/behind/at the junction whilst they were doing it. If they dropped the phone they got a warning if they carried on......well it says a lot about how much attention you can pay to the road and chat on your mobile doesn't it. It does cause a lack of concentration.<br /><br />Other than that not really got a lot to tell you other than my stress levels and blood pressure are at the lowest point that I can remember them being for the last 9 years. Ahhhh, that is until I remembered that response calls again on Thursday, YIPPEE........no really........really,..... honest, sort of.........no it's all bollocks, here we go again!<br /><br />Please let me pass. Had a taste of the other side and don't want to go back!Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-28690603935246528052009-05-30T09:56:00.002+01:002009-05-30T10:07:02.750+01:00Was it worth bothering?This quote is taken from the bloody application form that took me about 3 weeks to complete and evidence properly. The problem was my yearly development review has for the last few years been just enough to show that I was competent. To use it as a means to assist an application took considerably longer.<br /><br />The quote reads:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">" We are committed to the employment of people with disabilities and from ethnic minorities. There is a policy of guaranteed shortlisting of those applicants."</span><br /><br />I am not disabled and am white British as well as being heterosexual.<br /><br />Wonder if I will make it to the shortlist.Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-51800280600052444612009-05-29T11:29:00.002+01:002009-05-29T11:38:03.069+01:00Totally Random.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.abdn.ac.uk/birdsong/images/photos/Song_Thrush_Nigel_Pye.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="http://www.abdn.ac.uk/birdsong/images/photos/Song_Thrush_Nigel_Pye.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Well it is no longer in my hands.<br /><br />The dreaded application form has finally been submitted. What happens next is no longer up to me.<br /><br />On a much much lighter note I saw <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1189211/Bird-bath--Mother-mistle-thrush-uses-dam-protect-nest-overflowing-drainpipe.html">this</a> and couldn't help but you know,,,, respect. What dedication.<br /><br />Random post I know but thought it worthy. (Yes I'm a muppet). As so many of the comments on the original article say the love of a mother. Where in society did we all go poo?Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-3593584609078256212009-05-24T22:58:00.005+01:002009-05-24T23:56:42.020+01:00What have we become?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pictures.deadlycomputer.com/d/19690-1/d-day.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 478px; height: 313px;" src="http://pictures.deadlycomputer.com/d/19690-1/d-day.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I have read, re-read and then checked again <a href="http://hogday-afternoon.blogspot.com/2009/05/sixty-five-years-ago-in-place-not-so.html">this</a> and after looking once again through the extensive online library that is available on WW 2, I wonder how we, in today's society, ever get away with complaining that life is too stressful. I have visited the Normandy beaches, been to Dachau and also in my own small way been in a war zone. Admittedly it was the first Gulf War and the pilots and nav's were the ones who were up there taking casualties but when the air raid siren goes and the Patriot batteries suddenly let go, the sphincter goes snap. "Be in time, mask in nine" was a phrase drilled into us during basic training. My respirator must have been smoking when I finally got in on, approximately 2 seconds in my eyes but probably about 9 in all honesty. It was only afterwards that we learnt it was a Scud 2 still in it's booster phase on it's way to Israel, luckily as so many of them were it was a dud.<br /><br />Anyway, back to the point of this, someone I work with has gone off with stress. Fair enough, he/she is 24 living alone, got no financial worries and still lives with his/her parents. He/she has contacted a solicitor in relation to taking legal action against the job for imposing excessive work requirements upon him/her. He/she has to respond to incidents utilising the driving training that he/she has received, he/she then has to deal with the "victims" and on top of all that he/she then has to deal with crime reports that he/she has generated or have been allocated to him/her.<br /><br />I will admit to having been ill with stress 5 years ago, a prolonged 11 hours with a very smelly sudden death that had seen the partner wrap tea towels and all other forms of material around the badly DE-composed body. It was instantly treated as suspicious and was a scene. I had a world of personal poo going on at the time, debt, personal problems and that incident was the straw that broke the camel's back. I was ashamed to admit that something was wrong but after several weeks of not being able to eat I had to face facts. Something wasn't right. I was eventually "fixed" after a couple of months and released on the public again.<br /><br />The point of all this is to ask what sort of pathetic society have we become? I have watched, read and listened to numerous accounts of D-Day and wonder if the worst ever happened again could those monumental events ever be repeated? In my heart of hearts I don't think so. Look at my feeble excuses for going a bit odd, the numerous claims for injuries from little traffic shunts and the other similar stories. I no longer believe that we live in Great Britain anymore. What we now reside in is a festering corrupt and self centred society that doesn't give a shit about anything that occurs beyond the end of our garden path. I remember the silver jubilee and the street parties, did we have the same with the golden jubilee? No political correctness.....oh stop it, must go now.<br /><br />Regards.Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-10241723533428807722009-05-18T17:12:00.003+01:002009-05-18T19:28:09.785+01:00Application forms.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.brianhutzell.com/cartoon%20gallery/images/Steaming%20Brain.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 348px; height: 450px;" src="http://www.brianhutzell.com/cartoon%20gallery/images/Steaming%20Brain.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />As you are aware from my previous posts and I apologise to non-police readers, I am currently doing an application to get away from the dross I have dealt with for the last 9 years.<br /><br />Is completing the application itself a part of the selection process? I sometimes wonder why I haven't applied previously for vacancies and now am reminded why. The bloody application form. Firstly and the least trivial it is to be typed in Arial font 11, ok I can do that. They then give you 8 areas that you need to focus on and evidence. For my part these areas are:<br /><br />1.Respect for race and diversity.<br />2.Teamworking.<br />3.Community and customer focus.<br />4.Planning and organisation.<br />5.Personal responsibility.<br />6.Problem solving.<br />7.Effective communication.<br />8.Resilience. <br /><br />This is the stuff I do everyday and never feel the need to big it up by telling everyone and his dog about it by putting it on a piece of paper and getting it signed by 3 people.<br /><br />They then leave you to get on with it after providing something called a Job Description Questionnaire and an Integrated Competency Framework. They also usefully provide you with an aide to assist you in your application which basically tells you if you haven't got the skills don't apply. Incidentally the box on the page allows you approximately 700 words in the required font. That is not a lot.<br /><br />The evidence to support your application must be contained with your E-PDR (Electronic-Personal Development Review) but that only went live from the 1st January 2009. Prior to that you got pieces of paper from people saying that you had done a good job etc. which you could add into your PDP (Personal Development Portfolio). This was a tangible document which was forwarded with your application. I used to get all these bits of paper, put them in my drop file and at the PDP time just get a big hole punch and stick them in it. A quick session on the computer for my PDP 1(?) and job done for another year. I was officially competent! Hooray.<br /><br />I have a good number of pieces of paper I have acquired over the last 12 months which I now wish to use in my application. In order to do so I have to enter them as a PDP(S) and then scan them on. I also have to then do a PDP5 to evidence the information that is contained in the PDP(S) and e-mail it to about 6 people to get them to sign it off as real evidence. I feel a bit of a rant starting. Going for a cigarette outside.<br /><br />Aahh, that's better.<br /><br />Anyway this application has proved to be the biggest BA I have ever dealt with. Send me to worst hate crime you could ever imagine or worse but please don't allow me to ever fill in one of these bloody applications again.<br /><br /><br />Must go and type some more self aggrandising stuff again. I wouldn't mind, I'm not going for promotion or even trying to leave the country!Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-83729528189256164102009-05-18T01:06:00.003+01:002009-05-18T01:15:49.837+01:00Oliver Cromwell 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://faculty.maxwell.syr.edu/gaddis/HST212/April18/OliverCromwell.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 311px; height: 364px;" src="http://faculty.maxwell.syr.edu/gaddis/HST212/April18/OliverCromwell.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />When Cromwell did his thing to the Rump parliament he was leaving them in no doubt about their position, they were no longer acting in the interest of the country. His speech was:<br /><br />"<span style="font-style:italic;">It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue and defiled by your every vice.<br /><br />"Ye are a pack of mercenary wretches and like ESAU sell your country for a mess of pottage and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.<br /><br />"Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess?<br /><br />"Ye have no more religion than my horse. Gold is your God.<br /><br />"Which of you has not bartered your conscience with bribes?<br /><br />"Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the commonwealth?<br /><br />"Ye furdid prostitutes have you not defiled this sacred place and turned the Lord's temple into a den of thieves by your immoral principles and wicked practices?<br /><br />"Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation.<br /><br />"You were deputed here to get grievances redressed; are not yourselves become the greatest grievance?<br /><br />"Your country therefore calls upon me to to cleanse the Augean stable by putting a final period to your iniquitous proceedings in this house and which by God's help and the strength he has given me I am now come to do.<br /><br />"I command ye therefore upon the peril of your lives to depart immediately out of this place...<br /><br />"Go and get out, make haste ye venal slaves be gone - so take away that shining bauble there and lock up the doors".</span><br /><br />Does that sound vaguely familiar in this current climate? Any offers for someone to be a 2009 Cromwell without the dictatorial aspect?Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-33191851872510214832009-05-12T18:22:00.002+01:002009-05-12T18:26:52.559+01:00I am not too bright.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.inmagine.com/img/photoalto/paa111/paa111000072.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="http://images.inmagine.com/img/photoalto/paa111/paa111000072.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Please excuse the last post, it was done without proper referencing and now I feel a right Woppa. <br /><br />Anyway, back to bloody application and how do I now evidence planning and organisation?Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-49307451310487492342009-05-08T18:44:00.003+01:002009-05-08T18:56:35.666+01:00Busy few weeks.I may not be able to post for a couple of weeks but all is well. <br /><br />The copious amounts of typing, re-typing and further re-re typing of my application will I'm afraid, take priority.<br /><br />It's pretty life changing and if successful won't be the lowest of the low anymore, probably the highest of the low. Work it out if you wish to. Will still be a Constable and still confused, just in a different role.<br /><br />Anyway, unless anything particularly noteworthy comes along you won't be hearing from me. Depending on your point of view this may be viewed as either a positive or negative. Will still be adding my inane comments though.<br /><br />Regards.Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-30980219787946379182009-05-05T17:21:00.004+01:002009-05-05T18:57:22.597+01:00Health and Safety gone mad.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/heritagemanagement/uplandpathmanagement/img/imagex11.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 480px; height: 404px;" src="http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/heritagemanagement/uplandpathmanagement/img/imagex11.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I will firstly apologise for the length of the link that is attached.<br /><br />Yesterday I was physically fighting with a 6'8 body builder who had been causing problems at a local mental health ward where he was a voluntary patient. He is an asylum seeker from the Congo who has had his application refused however due to his current state of mind he is deemed as not fit to be returned to his country. He was given the option of a so called detention centre or "voluntary" admission to a psychiatric unit. He has been a handful whilst there but the balance was tipped yesterday when he started assaulting staff and other residents with chairs and whatever else he could find. It was a bit of a mess and really touch and go when we arrived. After about 20 minutes of fast talking and agreeing with him he was coming with us. Where else are we going to take him?<br /><br />He was initially calm whilst booking him in to be assessed by the crisis team, this chap was not suitable for detention at a hospital as he was already supposedly under the care of a mental health team. Anyway his antics start as soon as his handcuffs are removed. He is looking for a weapon and tries to pick up a computer monitor to throw but thankfully they are screwed down. It takes 3 of us to merely get the handcuffs (x2) applied to the rear to control his arms. He is taken straight to a cell where due to his behaviour he is to wear a safety gown for his own protection. Can't have him hurting himself can we?<br /><br />I won't go into all the details but he was very strong and in the end it took 6 of us to be able to remove his clothing and perform a safe cell exit tactic. This may sound excessive but his strength, his frame of mind and the fact that we were all tired after 45 minutes of struggling with this chap. Anyway later in the day he was sectioned by the crisis team and is now receiving the care he needs. I hope he can now improve enough to go back to his family at home. That is not sarcastic, that is what he was telling us during the struggle about how he wants to go home as well as that today, he will die in order to keep his shirt on.<br /><br />There were quite a few of us with bumps, bruises and various other marks that were the result of the struggle. The custody Sergeant duly noted every injury on the custody record.<br /><br />Today I walked into work and opened my e-mails. There was a not so polite bollicking from the Chief Inspector of custody berating me along with the other 5 officers for not exercising due regard for the health and safety implications of our actions which resulted in our injuries minor though they were. I promptly e-mailed him back and asked him to review the in cell footage and tell me how he would have dealt with it. As a result apparently I am going to give him a damn good listening to in a week or so as he is a day worker and I am a shift worker. That is the first time our "shifts" will coincide. What a joke.<br /><br />I am not a fan of his due to previous associations but can't help but agree with this Chief Con who wrote about this H&S nonsense in 2007, <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article3000981.ece">here</a> is the link.<br /><br />Sensibilities from a senior officer? Surely not.Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-12801742830334784102009-04-30T20:10:00.002+01:002009-04-30T20:50:26.372+01:00The new broom.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://youngflyandfabulous.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/400px-broom_iconsvg.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://youngflyandfabulous.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/400px-broom_iconsvg.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Here we are again, the dump that is classed as ECHO 2/3 in my area has just got a new Chief Inspector. Fair does, following my last post he actually came on parade with us. I now know who my Chief Inspector is. I feel so relieved. He assured us that he was operational through and through and was not just filling his portfolio for his next promotion. Fair enough I thought, give him a chance BUT then the government inspired drivel couldn't help but come out. Compliance with victim......blueprint.....pledge etc all blurted out and it all went wrong. He lost all credibility. He asked who was a driver, looked at the states and said he was going to go on patrol with Con 9999. The officer in question was suitably underwhelmed.<br /><br />Guess what, despite his promises he didn't go out. He has only been here a week and in all fairness has been on parade with all 5 blocks. He is vocal, dismissive and very self righteous. All I know is that I was begging and stealing from other areas to get cars to go out in. We do tend to break ours around here! Well we don't the offenders do. Come 5 PM he was out the door and did actually say hello to me. I then stopped him on the ramp to the car park and asked him lots. I said I wouldn't embarrass him in front of the block but asked him what he was going to do to change things. There is so much that needs changing and here was his chance to do it. <br />I am 39 coming on 40 and he is only a few years older than me. He then said that he couldn't do my job nor could most people above the rank of Sergeant. He also stated that despite response being the shitty end of the stick we were the general view of the police that most people held.<br /><br />In light of my last post I felt somewhat justified in doing it. It however nailed just another another nail in the coffin of my belief that we are not even considered in the depths of the "Policing Pledge" we will just always be there to be abused by cancelled rest days and various other events that need arsing about.<br /><br />I do report with not a little excitement that I do have several irons in the fire and come the end of May, I will have some respite. The longer term requires lots of typing.Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929303084525888415.post-33720937648566500392009-04-27T19:51:00.001+01:002009-04-27T20:14:59.471+01:00Supervision<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/sgt-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 101px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/sgt-3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I sit at home and sometimes, you can’t help it, ponder the events of the day.<br /><br />I frequently attend incidents where the “bigger picture” has to be viewed. I am talking about scenes, prisoner watches at hospitals and the inevitable constant obs at police jails. All of these things are considered. I arrive at a job, there is clearly a scene and it needs to be preserved. If the offender is arrested it is worthwhile otherwise all you are recovering is frequently the blood of the “victim” (note adherence to the victim charter there). However there is a gut wrenching, sphincter snapping clap that echoes throughout Notgreatside at every occasion where somebody is even slightly hurt.Common sense does never prevail therefore and the echo of the sphincter results in a scene etc. How many rolls of scene tape we must go through actually scares me. Incidentally when a scene is taped off and there is an officer stood preventing people access how many people come up and ask if it OK for them to walk through it or just ignore it altogether? “Can I just walk through as I need to go to the offy?” Errm No! They still ask though. Would I put tape round that says “POLICE CRIME SCENE DO NOT ENTER” if it was ok to walk through?<br /><br />Anyway after numerous stints of acting despite never even sitting the exam never mind passing it. I now find myself in the position of having supervision who have less time in than me or have been so far removed from front line policing they are a bloody liability! They have obviously read the books and passed the exam, they are still at the T/Sgt stage and still haven’t a clue about anything. One of them can’t work past x o’clock in the morning due to sleep problems. I sometimes struggle to sleep on nights but don’t complain, why is he a Sgt on a 24/7 response block? The other one, well, is generally never there due to courses but is quite effective when in work. In other words the burden frequently falls on my shoulders.<br /><br />In my former life in the RAF I was promoted to the rank of Sgt and after passing what was called General Service Training courses on two occasions, four weeks in the classroom/field (one to Corporal then the next to Sgt) I actually learned how to lead/look after staff. Welfare, food, drink and toilet breaks are essential. They are not just to be accommodated when convenient. To the best of my knowledge I never had to order anyone to do a menial task, there was always a request and due to the fact I would also do the rubbish jobs when required my staff just did it. There were frequent instances where I had to just ask people to do jobs and they would. If my shift heard me say this or that needs doing NOW I wouldn’t have to order anyone they would just do it I would not do it unless necessary. End result the job got done and people had respect for the rank because:<br /><br />a) you had earned it and got the t-shirt.<br /><br />b) you treated them properly.<br /><br />Moving on a decade or so and I find myself in another uniformed role which is supposedly disciplined.However there is a distinct lack of leadership. From a purely personal point of view being deposited at a crime scene at 23:00 and not being relieved until well past 07:00 is not acceptable. Never mind the weather or the availability of facilities this is clearly not right. (Haven't done that for years but still remember). I would even push it to possibly be a contravention of yooman rights but will stand corrected on that one. When I wear the mantle I always remember try to remember the fundamentals of it. While we lucky ones who get to whizz around in fast cars frequently never get a break it is significantly better than standing on a cold wet scene with nowhere to have a pee! Frequently in the full view of the press and numerous other members of the public. This ignominious role frequently falls to the junior officers on the block. I did it but thankfully with Sergeants who gave a toss. There was always a break for a brew and another one for your scoff. I try to follow their example. That was not that long ago, only 9 years. Those people have either moved on or retired. The sorry replacements are not up to the job or just don’t care. I know from my own experience that once a commitment is covered then the welfare of the staff doing it takes second place despite my urgings. On numerous occasions I have taken flasks of hot water and maxpax out to scenes etc when I have pointed out the requirement to my “superiors”. I wonder why so many student officers are leaving before their 2 years is up. These same people are scared of making decisions and as such will always take the “cover your arse” position instead of following the advice of an experienced officer or frequently, the position dictated by common sense. It really concerns me that these people are responsible for so much. It really isn’t hard to put yourself in the position of someone dying for a pee being surrounded by Sky Poos reporters and cameramen doing the “really need a pee/poo dance”. For heaven's sake one female student officer ended up in hospital with a severe kidney infection due to holding her bladder for 10 hours. Why can I see the basic needs and do my utmost to accomodate these whereas those with stripes can't. I point out with apologies that I.G. and other supervisors who post probably do give a stuff which is why their staff get on with the job. These people obviously have common sense whereas a lot of supervisors just complete the advisory staff management course, take no notice of it and get on with their next promotion. How that differs from my man management training.<br /><br />I could go on for ever pointing out the failings of supervision, the lack of balls oops, courage for the diverse, the futile allocation of insolvable crime reports, the basic requirements of staff as highlighted above and above all else the absence of leadership. This goes beyond immediate supervisors right to the top echelons of “management”. When will the government realise that the police is not a business and does not need managers, what it needs are some leaders who will enforce the laws and policies that direct their staff and not worry about<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4428021/Gay-pride-flag-flies-at-police-HQ.html"> this</a>. Perhaps that way we can just get on with the job whilst still being held accountable, and not be the excuse for the political clusterfucks that we are now.<br /><br />This post comes from despair about what we are becoming and also from hearing the results about who has passed the OSPRE exam and who hasn't. 22 year old just, and he has passed? How is he going to lead?<br /><br />I haven't got the spare time at home to study at the moment hence the reason I am not one of the happy or sad candidates.Constable Confused.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826293130119465865noreply@blogger.com14