propidol

You should get supplied a belt and a torch. Bag wise I just use the kit bag I was given. There's absolutely no need to spend £50-£60 on a bag. You can buy a cheap watch. No harm in it. I haven't personally, I've never felt the need for one to be totally honest. Boots definitely buy. I have magnums which are good but there are other good boots out there too. Earlier you buy them the better you can start polishing them up 😃 At this time you don't need to buy anything except boots. You'll be wasting money buying any kit you may not even need. Wait until you're there and have received your kit before considering buying anything.

Haven't knowingly met any direct entry Inspectors or Supers yet so I couldn't comment in that regard, however I'll share the generic feeling amongst us PC's; A lot of people who join as a PC wants promotion. Wants to go through the ranks and things like this are a kick in the teeth to those that work their backsides off and are superb at their job but get knocked back for a direct entry. Honestly, my personal opinion is to join as a PC and work through the ranks. You'd be far more respected if you'd had to start at the bottom, deal with what we deal with. You'd understand the job, know the job, and it would be reflected in decision making. I disagree entirely with the whole direct entry. I think it's an absolute farce and a kick in the teeth to us PC's who want promotion and have worked hard for it. I don't mean that as anything against you, nor do I wish to offend or put anyone off. Rather I'd rather put my own personal and others opinion on the direct entry out there.

Cannabis - if not smoked regularly - leaves the system within 24-36hrs. Provided you don't actually smoke it, or take any other substances you'll be fine.

You handled that poorly and set the tone by marching up to the door swearing at the daughter - by the way how old is she? Reason I ask is that if it was my daughter and you'd of come shouting and swearing at her at my door you'd of got a gobfull off me as well, just without the threats.

I'll be totally honest mate - if I came across you and had reason to stop and search you and came across a 4" locking knife - you'd be arrested for possession of a bladed article. Being a delivery driver and having to open boxes, in my opinion really doesn't excuse that size of knife. What's wrong with a bog standard Stanley knife?

If this is an exam question you must take it literally as it states. In this question though it doesn't make it clear what her intentions were when she entered the restaurant. Based purely on the fact that she didn't enter originally as a trespasser, I'd go with s9(1)(b). She entered into an area which members of the public are not allowed (trespassing) and committed theft. You'd never in a million years in reality get a burglary charge out of this, it'd go down as straight up theft.

I know the frustration you feel - I felt it too when I was going through the application! You'll get there in the end.

You want to start making that professional impression now, suit and boot it mate. I went to one of these years ago and some people turned up in t shirts, jeans, shorts - one even came in flip flops. Even on the AC there was still one or two in jeans and t shirts and funnily enough, they didn't get through. Being a police officer is all about professionalism. Show it early doors even if it's an informal registration. You never know who's watching and taking note.

That's brilliant news, congratulations Warren.

I haven't been through the experience that you have, when I transferred my AC scores things went quite smoothly. It's a waiting game I'm afraid but if I were you I'd prepare to attend another AC. Come September you may well be invited to the next stage but in the time between now and then another force may open up or your local force accepting applications again.

At Cheshire we use tablets that double up as laptops with the detachable keyboard. I must say they are fantastic and make your life so much easier. Witness statements, crime files and reports, MISPER reports etc can all be done on the go and out of the nick. It also makes it easier when responding to jobs as well, I can take a look at it first and check those involved so I have half an idea about what I'm walking in to.

Shifts vary station to station, it's not a uniform pattern as would be with other forces. As I was leaving there was a mass review into shift patterns which may or may not be coming to an end. Best place to go would be the MDP forum on here.

I can't go into too much on a public forum, nor will I over private messaging due to the sensitivity of what I did with MDP and what, as a whole, the MDP do. However if you're looking at the MDP with aspirations of being a copper - don't. Carry on applying to home office forces, joining the MDP won't make you a copper anymore than working security at Asda. The most I'll tell you is that you will be stood on a gate for x amount of time. You won't work anywhere near home and will either travel the country to and from work (as I did and many others did and do also) or have to relocate at your own expense.

I'd imagine it'll be within 14days - despite what I said that's generally the communication you get with regards to time frame.

I failed 3 AC's (GMP x 2 and Essex) before joining MDP then on to Cheshire. Its devastating but a learning curve and it helped teach me drive and commitment. Remember that failure isn't failure unless you give up.

Force to force vary. I've known some people wait as long as 2months whereas I've known others wait as little as a week. When was your AC?

As above, the role play and interview are the heavy hitters and jointly account for over half of the available marks. Maths and verbal reasoning, though important to do well in, account for very little of the marks. I'm sure I'll be corrected if wrong but I'm near certain you have to pass all by a certain percentage in order to attain a full AC pass mark. Cheshire's pass mark is 50% as is *most* police forces, I would imagine GMP are the same. One does wonder though why you didn't know this information beforehand? When I was going through my Cheshire app I spent days and nights revising and preparing for not just the AC but also the final interview and I knew everything about the force and what score I needed to attain.

Ring recruitment and have them add it to your form. Explain the situation to them. Out of interest, what was the conviction? (Assuming you're willing to share this)

As the old saying goes "You don't know until you try"

No police action was taken for either instance, why would you even bother including that in your application? It's absolutely irrelevant and may cause issues. On both occasions two things will of happened; - You would of been PNC checked and your licence checked - Your car would of been PNC checked to show insurance, registered keeper and MOT These details are NOT kept on record in instances where there were no offences. Therefore there is no need to declare this or worry one iota about it.

I was over on BMI when I joined GMP, MDP then Cheshire. I'm 6"4' and a regular weight lifter and have been for 15years or so now. I've also played professional rugby league, boxed and still keep up fitness. I'm by no means 'ripped', I do have unwanted weight to shift. The only issue I had was with the MDP and the Dr wouldn't pass me, he told me I had 16kgs to lose in 6 weeks - yes 6 weeks! I appealed immediately, literally I rang recruitment as I walked through the door on the way out. Before I got home I had an email telling me the occupational health nurse had overturned the Dr and passed me. Fast forward 18months and I joined Cheshire. I had my medical and he had absolutely no issue in passing me despite me being way over on the BMI. Common sense prevailed. Setting aside weight training, do you do fitness? How active are you? How often? You'll need to lodge an appeal and if it is to be successful you need to put those answers in and expand on them.

http://news.sky.com/story/red-flag-warning-from-watchdog-over-national-crisis-in-policing-10786933 http://news.sky.com/story/police-effectiveness-what-rating-does-your-force-get-in-hmic-report-10786868?dcmp=snt-sf-twitter It's what has been being said for years finally come to fruition. The Government as usual have attempted to absolve themselves of any blame if you notice the quote from Brandon Lewis (The Minister for Policing and the Fire Service) - "This Government has protected police funding, through the 2015 Spending Review. "There can be no excuse for any force that fails to deliver on its obligations - those identified as inadequate or requiring improvement must take HMIC's findings very seriously and I expect to see rapid improvements." What he fails to mention was the crippling budget cuts which came before it leaving most forces simply incapable of recruiting year on year and losing more than they're gaining.

A little bit old this thread now but I thought I'd share my experiences of being in 2 different forces as a probationer: MDP Awful. Truly awful. Anyone above Inspector didn't give a toss and it was rare an Inspector cared (I had a great Inspector on my section so I got lucky). From the moment I left training to the moment I left the force I couldn't wait to get out. There was no backing for any aspirations you may have and absolutely no empathy or consideration given to officers who were struggling as I was due to personal circumstances. All they cared about was that you were on your gate. Cheshire I joined quite recently and I have to admit I have loved every single second of it. I was in training for a short period due to having the policing degree and previous long term Special experience. There were a few minor teething issues when I left the training school such as various computer systems not being updated but they were ironed out quickly. The support network available is absolutely superb, the backing and help I've received from supervision up to the ACC was outstanding. They introduced themselves and spoke to me like a person and not just as a number. Obviously I respected rank, but it felt like a conversation with a friend. The people on my block are brilliant and will drop anything to help you out and this prevelant amongst my block. We have a block of over half probationers but it's a well run, well oiled block with a wealth of knowledge and experience behind it. Going back to the original post I genuinely can't believe you've were set arrest records. Surely this goes against PACE? I can partly understand detection rates but if you're given a job which is going nowhere commonly what are you supposed to do? Gene Hunt it and pin it on someone? I do hope in the 12/13 months or so that have passed since this post that it has improved for you and you're still in the job.

Congratulations!

Yep, hence the "whole world of the proverbial"