Pension.
Their pension’s scheme offers generous benefits, with the option of transferring previous pensions to their scheme. It’s also worth noting that PCs Scheme, so National Insurance contributions are paid at the lower, contracted out rate.
Task2(d)
Summary of the best and worst point of jobs within the police force.
The best point
- Their salary are very good
- Been respect by the public
- Free travel
- Promotion
- Get a lot of specialist training
Police officers get a very good salary. When PCs start they get paid £19,803 per year. On completion of their initial training period they get paid £22,107 per years and more you are gaining experiences more you get paid; it can go up to 30,477 per year. A sergeant gets paid £31,092 when he starts which can go up to £34,944 a year and an inspector get paid from £39,840 (£41,586 in London) for a newly promoted Inspector to £43,212 (£44,970) for an Inspector with three completed years of service in rank.
Police officers are very respected by the public because they are honest, respectable and try to treat everyone fairly. Police officers are able to travel every where in England. Buses, trains are free for them. They are able to go to a higher rank by taking an exam. They learn how to hand calf people, they learn how to use CS spray, and they learn how to communicate well with the community.
The worst point
- They can get killed
- Arresting people
- Working in the night time
- Long shift
They can get killed if they are following a criminal and the criminal turn and shut them.
Task3: Investigate the application and selection process for a given public service
a) A summary of the entry requirements and the stages of the selection process of the police
Entry requirements
AGE
You can apply to join as soon as you are 18 years old – although if you are successful you cannot start training until you are 18½. Equally, we value the experience and maturity of older men and women and encourage their applications. However, police constables normally retire when they are 55 years old and therefore you will only be offered an appointment with North Yorkshire Police before your 50th birthday.
EDUCATION
There are no formal educational requirements. We are looking for people with the right combination of skills, attitude and enthusiasm to become an efficient police officer. The right person could hold a great many academic qualifications, or none at all.
NATIONALITY
You must be a British Citizen, an EC/EEA national, Commonwealth Citizen or foreign national without restrictions on your stay in the United Kingdom.
TATTOOS and BODY PIERCINGS
Police officers are subject to a code of conduct in respect of their appearance, and should be sensitive to the impression they will make on the people with whom they come into contact. You will be considered providing any tattoos are not visible or offensive, and that when on duty any piercing is discrete (i.e. not visible on your face, and includes just a single sleeper in the lobe of each ear).
PENSION
Their pension’s scheme offers generous benefits, with the option of transferring previous pensions to our scheme. It’s also worth noting that police officers are contracted out of the earnings related part of the State Pension Scheme, so National Insurance contributions are paid at the lower, contracted out rate.
Entry to the Police
Stage one
All applicants complete the initial HPD scheme application form. In addition to relevant personal details, it also contains questions designed to assess your competencies. No policing knowledge is required and the form gives comprehensive guidance about what to consider and how to complete your application.
Stage two
This stage involves two written tests under examination conditions. The primary focus is on an individual’s ability to analyse and solve problems. Again no policing knowledge is required.
Success at this stage takes candidates on to the third and final selection stage.
Stage three
This two-day interactive assessment centre is the last stage of the selection process. Candidates will take part in a series of exercises with other applicants, and have a personal interview.
b) Letter of application
130 Homerton High Street,
Flat 16,
E9 6JA,
London
Chief Constable
Paul Stephenson
Lancashire Constabulary
Headquarters,
PO Box 77,
Hutton,
Preston,
PR4 5SB
09 August 2004
Dear Sir or Madam
My name is Colombe Kipemosso. I have studied a BTEC First Diploma in Public Services and I am now interested in pursuing a job as a Police Constable.
The recruitment for police officers was indicated in your Website listings of September 1st, 2004. If this recruitment still exists, please consider me as an applicant for the position and send me an application pack please.
I have read the materials about your Metropolitan Police Force, and I believe that I would be a benefit to your organisation and I posses the skills and determination to do well. I would be very interested in being considered.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Colombe Kipemosso
Curriculum Vitae
Colombe Kipemosso
Flat 16, 130 Homerton High Street, London, E9 9JA Tel: 07835 444 961
Date of Birth: 10 July 1987
Nationality: French
EDUCATION:
Date School/College Qualification grade
2002-2004 BGTC Secondary School GCSEs
English Lang. D
English Lit. E
Maths C
French A*
Humanity F
Sciences E
Graphics D
Religious D
Music A
ICT Level 3
2004-2005 Brooke House Sixth BTEC 1st Diploma Public Services
Result not yet available
A2 French
Result not yet available
GCSE English (retake)
Result not yet available
WORK EXPERIENCE (most recent first)
August 2004 Employer Duties Reason for leaving
Restaurant Cleaning Placement (1month)
Autin
FRANCE
OTHER ACTIVITIES/ INTERESTS
I am interest at writing stories, playing the piano and different sports, such as basketball, softball, tennis, and dancing. I was a member of my school basketball team and won the first price of the regional female competition in 2003. I also take some street dance lessons and singing lessons as enrichment.
REFEREES ON REQUEST
Personal statement
My name is colombe kipemosso, I am a 17 years old French student studying BTEC 1st Public Services at B6 Six form college.
I have a wonderful personality. I am also easily hurt and take people at face value. Sometimes my emotions rule her life. My personality is what draws people to her. Not only the guys in my life but also my friends. I am honest and trustworthy and can't tell a lie to save my life. People see right through me so I don’t try to be anything other than myself.
I am physically fit and I currently play on my college basket ball team. I have been a prefect for 2 years at BGTC secondary school. I have participated in the regional female basket ball team when I was in secondary school and we won the first prize.
On my GCSEs I had C in maths, A* in French and A in Music. I am retaking my GCSE English this year and also taking As French. I am planning to achieve a distinction on my entire courses and hopefully and I will get it.
I am a very good listening, talking, reading and writing person. I take part in discussions, I explain directions clearly, I’m good at writing letters, I always keep all my written records, I understand instruction manuals, I’m good at telephoning, I like reading books, magazines and newspapers. I am very good at making a contribution to the planning and carrying out of a task or activity in co-operation with other people. I am also good at taking part in a work placement; carrying out an investigation; and learning languages. I have a good skill of thinking about all aspects of a situation or problem. I know how to make decisions about what to do, make arrangements and plans and carry them out. I always look back at what has been done, judge how successful the plan was and what improvements could be made in the future. I make a lot of travel arrangements; I deal with different challenges at college; and I carry out home improvements.
I am quiet good at using Information Technology, finding, processing, presenting and communicating information. I know how to use the internet, CD-ROMs, the e-mail system and software packages; word processing; preparing documents. I am good at using Graphical information, understanding graphs, tables and diagrams. I am also good at using Numbers, understanding how to use numbers to do measurements and calculations.
I never worked at a police station and hopefully I’m going t find a work there in summer holliday.
Task4: Investigate the entry requirements and opportunities for career development within a given service
Stage 1
I will contact a police force that is recruiting and ask them for an application pack and after I have received it, I will complete the initial HPD scheme application form. In addition to relevant personal details, it will also contain questions designed to assess my competencies. No policing knowledge will be required and the form will gives me comprehensive guidance about what to consider and how to complete your application. If my form is rejected, it may be eligible to re-apply, but it depends on the circumstances and if I pass I will go to the next stage.
Stage 2
I will attend the Police Headquarters for a height, weight, eyesight and colour vision check, sit the initial entrance tests and complete additional questionnaires. This is to measure my height and weight because it has to be suitable that means not too thin and not too fat. If I fail, my application will be terminated and no re-application will be available for six months and if I pass I’ll go to the next stage.
Stage 3
I will give them my background including my academic and employer references. This is to check if I have any criminal record; if any member of my family or my friends is criminals; if my nationality is fulfil; and I have any terrorists’ links. If I fail, my application will be terminated, depending on circumstances, it may be available to re-apply after a minimum period of six months and I pass I’ll go to the next stage.
Stage 4
I will spend a full day being observed and assessed while I carry out a range of activities and tests. This is to see how I relate to the other, and whether I show teamwork and leadership qualities. If I fail, my application will be terminated and no re-application will be available for a minimum period of six months and if I pass I’ll go to the next stage.
Stage 5
I will do the physical fitness test at the Force Training School. This will test my endurance, speed and agility, dynamic strength and grip strength. If I fail my application will be terminated and no re-application will be available for a minimum period of six months and will have to develop my fitness before I come back. And I pass I’ll go to the next stage.
Stage 6
I will attend a formal interview and full employment medical. The interview will be by a panel of three police officers. It will lasts about half an hour and they will ask questions about what they have learned about me from my form. If I fail, my application will be terminated, no re-application for a minimum period of six months and if I pass I will receive the starting date agreed.
Stage 1 - Initial Application Pack
My initial application pack consists of an information booklet and leaflets plus 3 forms for me to complete and return:
- Initial Application Form
- Medical Questionnaire/General Practitioner's Report
- Eyesight Form
This will help the police to find all the information about me, my background, my interests, my family, and if I have got any criminal record.
Stage 2 - Police Initial Recruitment Test (PIR Test)
The police do not require any formal educational qualifications from me, therefore they need to check if I have the basic skills needed to function as a police officer. To do this they use the Police Initial Recruitment Test (PIR Test) which consists of five separately timed sub-tests each designed to measure a different ability. These are:
- The ability to spell words and construct sentences correctly.
- The ability to check information quickly and correctly.
- The ability to solve numerical problems accurately.
- The ability to reason logically when given facts about events.
- The ability to observe scenes carefully and recall details accurately.
The test lasts approximately 2½ hours.
Stage 3 - Physical Fitness Assessment
Due to the nature of Police work there is a need for Police Officers to possess an adequate level of physical fitness, therefore enabling them to perform physical tasks when called upon to do so in a professional and competent manner.
Officers must be able to fulfill their duties energetically and sometimes sustain this effort over prolonged periods in difficult conditions. It is essential that they are able to recover quickly from these duties without adverse effects to their health. A physically fit officer will be better equipped to face this challenge.
An essential feature of the selection procedure is a 'Physical Fitness Assessment', to enable me to prepare and identify whether I am at the required level of fitness.
Stage 4 - Recruitment Assessment Centre
The Assessment Centre will consist of a series of work stations at which each candidate is assessed individually. It will assess the following competencies by a mixture of written and role-play exercises:
- Controlling.
- Dealing with people.
- Dealing with Information (Problem solving).
- Communication.
Detailed instructions will be given on the day.
This is important because the police can see if I have a team leader skill, if I can solve different problems and if I can communicate with different type of people.
Stage 5 - Final Application Pack/Paper Sift
A final application pack will be sent to me if I successfully pass the Recruitment Assessment Centre.
At this stage the police will request details of my educational background, employment history, personal achievements and your commitment to joining the Police Service.
This important to know because the police want to know if I have got any friends or family member who’s got a criminal record. They also want to know my employment history to know why I have quite or have been fired.
Stage 6 - Medical Examination/Assessment
If successful at paper sift I will be invited to attend for Medical Assessment.
At Medical Examination I may either pass, fail or be deferred whilst further medical information is gathered.
This important to the police because they need to know if I have got any Illness.
Stage 7 - Final Interview
The interview will last between 20 - 30 minutes, following which you will be required to wait before receiving my result and feedback from the panel.
The interview panel will usually consist of two Police Officers, a Superintendent and an Inspector, and one representative of the Police Federation.
If successful, providing all references and security checks are satisfactory I will be offered an appointment.
This is important to the police because they have the opportunity to ask you questions about the information you gave them.
The initial training programme in the police
The initial training programme lasts 18 weeks and covers 10 separate themes such as 'policing for a diverse community' and 'managing crime scenes and suspects'. During this time you will develop a number of core skills:
- Problem solving
- Self motivation
- Communication
- Professional standard
- Working with other
Each training theme has its own written and practical assessment. If at any point you don’t reach the required standard they will do all they can to give you the assistance you need to improve.
Hendon Police College
For most new Police Officers, the recruits' course takes place at their purpose built training college in Hendon.
Designed to give you as real a picture of police work as possible, the College really brings police work to life.
It has a police station, a mock court and practical rooms such as a bed-sit, cafe and shop that serve to prepare you for the real thing. It also boasts catering, sports and leisure facilities to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.
Probationer training
the training doesn’t end with the recruits' course. You will continue to receive training and guidance during a two-year probationary period.
This begins with a 10-week Street Duties Course, where you'll work in one of the London boroughs with a trained tutor constable, learning more about local procedures and putting everything you have learned into practice.
You will then move on to independent patrolling which ensures that you are conducting core operational tasks in accordance with good practice. Throughout, your performance will be assessed in terms of competence, skills and knowledge.
Police Fitness Test
To ensure you are fit enough, you will undertake a fitness test. There are two elements to the test and you must pass both before you can be appointed.
The police are looking for no more than the minimum standard needed to enable you to work effectively as a police officer. You will be given help to improve your fitness and if you prepare yourself properly, there is no reason for you to fail.
Even if you don’t pass the test at your first attempt you will be allowed to re-take it. However, if you fail the test after three attempts your application will be halted and you will not be eligible to re-apply for six months.
Once you are appointed you will need to maintain your fitness and you will be regularly assessed during probation.
There are two elements to the test dynamic strength and endurance fitness.
Dynamic strength
Your dynamic strength will be assessed by the use of a machine called the Dyno machine. The test involves performing five seated chest pushes and five seated back pulls on the machine. The average force of the sum of the five pushes and the average force of the sum of the five pulls will be recorded.
Pushing
You will sit upright on the Dyno machine with your back firmly against the padding. Your feet must be flat on the floor with your knees at approximately 90 degrees. A firm grip is taken of the push bar with your hands level with the middle of your sternum. (The test administrator will make sure you are in the correct position.)
- You will be asked to perform three warm-ups.
- You will then be asked to perform five pushes at maximum effort with three seconds of recovery between each.
The average force produced during each effort will be displayed on the monitor and the average value of the five efforts will be displayed at the end of the set.
You will need an average of 34 kgs to pass.
Pulling
This time you will sit at the opposite end of the machine with your chest pushed against the padding. Your feet must be flat on the floor with your knees at approximately 90 degrees. A firm grip is taken of both pull handles with your hands level with the middle of your sternum. (The test administrator will ensure you are in the correct position.)
- You will be asked to perform three warm-ups.
- Then you will be asked to perform five pulls at maximum effort with three seconds of recovery between each.
The average force produced during each effort will be displayed on the monitor and the average value of the five efforts will be displayed at the end of the set.
You will need an average of 35 kgs to pass.
Endurance
In this element you will be asked to run to and fro along a 15 metre track in time with a series of bleeps.
If you arrive at the end line before the bleep sounds you need to wait for the bleep before resuming running and adjust your speed. The timing between bleeps is slow at first but the bleep becomes faster as the test progresses and it becomes more difficult to keep up with the required speed.
You will run until you can no longer keep up with the set pace. You will need to reach a minimum of four shuttles at level 5 to pass.
My suitability for police basic training.
Communication
I am a very good listening, talking, reading and writing person. I take part in discussions, I explain directions clearly, I’m good at writing letters, I always all keep my written records, I understand instruction manuals, I good at telephoning, I like reading books, magazines and newspapers.
Working with other
I am very good at making a contribution to the planning and carrying out of a task or activity in co-operation with other people. I am also good at taking part in a work placement; carrying out an investigation; and learning languages.
Problem solving
I have a good skill of thinking about all aspects of a situation or problem. I know how to make decisions about what to do, make arrangements and plans and carry them out. I always look back at what has been done, judge how successful the plan was and what improvements could be made in the future. I make a lot of travel arrangements; I deal with different challenges at college; and I carry out home improvements.
Professional standard
I am quiet good at using Information Technology, finding, processing, presenting and communicating information. I know how to use the internet, CD-ROMs, the e-mail system and software packages; word processing; preparing documents.
I am good at using Graphical information, understanding graphs, tables and diagrams. I am also good at using Numbers, understanding how to use numbers to do measurements and calculations.
I know how to get information from magazines or the Internet; work with money; measure rooms when a crime has been committed; doing calculations in mathematics or science.
Self-motivation
When I put my mind on something, soon or later I always do it. I am always motivated. But the only problem is that I take too long to finish it. I would like to be more motivated than I am; I try to finish things properly when I start them.
SWOT analysis for my career
My strengths
- Experiences
- Educations
- Two language speaker (French and English)
- I have got a very good communication, teamwork, leadership skills
- I am a strong worker ethic, I am self-discipline, I have got ability to work under pressure, creativity, optimism, and I have a high level of energy
- I have got good contacts e.g. none of my friends have a criminal record.
- I integrate quickly
My weakness
- I don’t have a lot of work experience
- I don’t have a lot of knowledge of the police
- I am shyness, and too emotional
My opportunity
- There is a lot police station that I can visit.
- There is a lot of trip on the Public services course that I’m doing.
- Self-knowledge of the Public Services
- Develop my professional standard
Threat
-
There’s a lot of competition in my class
- Fitness test when I’ll join the police
My Targets, Strength and Weakness
By the age of 18 I plan to apply for BTEC national in public services and As law. If I pass those courses, I believe that it will be helpful in the future and will look good in my CV. I also plan to find a part-time or a vacancy job. This will give me some work experiences, will give me some money to help me to be able to go to gym so I can be ready for the fitness test, and will also look good on my CV. I will start training myself to be ready to do the fitness test. This will be healthy for my body and will keep me fit.
By the 19, I will apply for the police because I am very interested on it and hope to make it my career. If I don’t get in I am planning to apply for university and study law because I am very interested in law. This will give me some qualification to find a job such as a solicitor in the future.
I have a lot of experiences. I went to an Army course for a day and I was really good at it. I have got good grades. For my GCSE I had C in maths and now I’m studying BTEC first Public Services and hopefully I will gain a distinction. It’s been two years that I’m in England. My first language is French and I speak English as well. I am a very open person; I like working with different people and I was elected to be a prefect but also a class rep in school; and I am a very good leadership.
I didn’t have the opportunity to do any work experiences and hopefully I will find a job to cover this empty space. I want to join the police but the only problem is that I don’t know a lot of things about the police. That is why I’m studying public services, to learn more about the police; its purpose, responsibilities and roles.
The career structure of the police
- Constable
- Sergeant
- Inspector
- Chief Inspector
- Superintendent
- Chief Superintendent
- Assistant Chief Constable
- Chief Constable
My potential and limitations for career development in the police
I’m very determining to join the police. I have the feeling that it will be very difficult to get in but I will try all my best to get in and I know that I have the potential to get into the police because in all my actions there’s always a clearly defined goal. After the trip at the army I felt like I could do anything.
I like work as a team, and I believe that teamwork is one of the quality to be a good police officer. Trust is very important. I should able to trust the persons I am working with, and they should be able to trust me.
To join the police I have to be fit. Like when I will follow a criminal, I will have to able to keep going.
Being over weight is one of my weaknesses because as I said you need to be fit to join the police. That is why I will start by today to go to the gym and do some exercise. This will be very healthy and will also help me to be fit.
I think the fact that I speak two languages will be an advantage because some times when one of the criminal speak another language such as French is useful to have somebody who speaks that language.
After I’ve join the police I would like to be considered for a promotion after five years, if I do well of course, I’ll see myself as a sergeant. I will spend three as a constable and then pass a test called OSPRE to be a sergeant. I will spend two years as a sergeant and then I will pass a test to be an inspector.
References and Bibliography
INTERNET REFERENCES:
http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/htm/nypd/html/pct/pct070.html
BOOKS REFERENCES
BTEC 1st Public Services text book
Bouza, A. (1990). The Police Mystique. NY: Plenum.
Cunningham, W., J. Strauchs & C. Van Meter. (1990). Hallcrest II: Private Security Trends. McLean, VA: Hallcrest Systems.
Klockars, C. (1985). The Idea of Police. Beverly Hills: Sage.
Manning, P. (1977). Police Work. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Reiss, A. (1971). The Police and the Public. New Haven, CT: Yale Univ. Press.
Shearing, C. & P. Stenning. (1987). Private Policing. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Sparrow, M., M. Moore & D. Kennedy. (1990). Beyond 911. NY: Basic.
Walker, S. (1992). The Police in America. NY: McGraw Hill.
Wilson, J. (1968). Varieties of Police Behavior. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ. Press.
