Advice

[enforce-logic forum administrator]

When I first joined the police in 1976 I received some  good advice from my tutor constable, 'Keep your eyes and ears wide open, and keep your mouth shut until you know what you are talking about'
Not bad advice really when you have just started.  A lot of emphasis is put on being bold and taking the initiative these days, BUT, as you gain experience and learn more you will look back at some of the things you have done and cringe.  We have all been there, you will never stop learning, nobdy knows it all.  If they think they do they are sadly mistaken.  Use our forum to read and learn, don't post anything too contentious, especially in your probabtion, as I mentioned, your views will change as you gain experience.
Most of all, enjoy the job, you will have good days and bad day, but it is still a great job even if you are not appreciated by everyone.  They will soon be there when they need you...Be true to yourself.

[guy incognito]

Excellent words and if I may add, show some enthusiasm!

There are some people, in and out of probation, who clearly have no desire or motivation in their work; a dangerous game to play in the current climate.

When I was in my probation I was expected to be first in and last out, clean the car, make the teas, go to as many calls as I could and deal with as much as possible. If someone got shouted out the canteen during their break to go to a call, it was me or another probationer.

Being a Police Officer is an honour, with dozens of prospective applicants for each job. It astonishes me to hear cops with very little service moan because they have to stand and do locus protection or complain that they have been held on half an hour after finishing time. It's what you get paid for and well paid at that.

Some might see it as unfair that Probationers get the rubbish jobs, but as the previous poster said, we have all been there. Books and training scenarios are no substitute to on the job training and seeing the good (and bad!) ways in which more experianced Officers deal with things.