Welcome to Hertfordshire Constabulary’s ‘PLOG’ – the story of a student Police Constable’s experiences of joining the force.
Plog 1
Ross Paybody is 23 and lives in Hertfordshire.
Hi, my name is Ross. I grew up in Enfield, North London and my interest in policing began when I joined the Police Cadets aged 14. I am currently training to be a police officer with Hertfordshire Constabulary.
While of course it’s not essential that applicants have any sort of police background, I loved the excitement of going out on ridealongs and doing the kind of outward bound exercises the Cadets had to offer. It helped me decide that I wanted to do policing as a career.
After completing my education, I took a year out travelling through Europe and America.
When I got back, recruitment for police officers was frozen. Hertfordshire were recruiting Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) however, and I decided to apply.
You do not have to have had experience as a PCSO in order to apply to become a police officer in Hertfordshire but personally I found it gave me a really good insight into the job and also some invaluable life experience.
I really loved being a PCSO and ended up doing the role for three and a half years. I know it’s a cliché but it’s true that no two days are ever the same.
It’s all about building relationships with the local community, getting to know the area you are working in and the people who live and work there.
As well as providing a reassuring presence on the street, your role is also about intelligence gathering. Knowledge is power as they say!
I initially spent two years in Potters Bar, working with the Safer Neighbourhoods Team which was more of a generic role, getting out on the streets, getting to know the community.
I spent the second half of my time as a Schools PCSO in Bushey. I was based in a local secondary school of about 900 pupils. I had an office at the school and worked from there during the school day.
I gave school assemblies and inputs into lessons on subjects such as knife crime, drugs, alcohol, bullying and internet safety. I also dealt with other issues such as Child Protection cases, truancy and general incidents.
Out of hours and during the school holidays, I organised ‘diversion’ projects designed to keep young people out of trouble, prevent them being victims of crime and doing something constructive with their time such as learning new skills.
Projects included a classic car restoration project, Army Outreach and sports activities such as golf, ice skating and skiing.
Again, my role was about building relationships with young people, giving them a point of contact should they have any problems. And about showing young people they can relate to someone in a uniform.
It was a challenging but very, very rewarding job which I enjoyed very much but eventually decided to make the move into becoming a police officer.
Applying to become a police officer
I applied in September 2007. The application form is quite time consuming as you have to complete and evidence four competencies including effective communication, respect for race and diversity, teamwork and resilience.
Assessment
I then got my Day One Assessment in December 2007.
The Assessment involves two written exams, verbal logical reasoning and a maths exam. This was followed by four role-plays and a 20 minute interview. The whole day lasts about six hours and there were about 40 other people there. I had mine at Hendon in North London but this now takes place in Stevenage.
I heard I had passed the assessment on Christmas Eve 2007. I then had a medical and fitness test and got a start date for September 2008. It generally takes between six months and a year between application and actually starting training.
The medical
The medical test involves being seen by a Force doctor and the Occupational Health nurse and is a full medical including an eye test at an outside optician which I paid for myself.
I also had to get a medical form signed by my GP which I also paid for.
The fitness test
For the fitness test, I had to come to Police Headquarters in Welwyn Garden City. You have to do the bleep test and get level 5.4. It involves running between two points staying in time with the beeps.
You also have to be able to push 34 kilogrammes and pull 35 kilogrammes on a piece of equipment called a Dyno Machine which is like a rowing machine. The levels to achieve on all the tests are the same for everybody whether you’re male or female.
I already stay quite fit doing hiking, caving, climbing and sailing, so I didn’t have to do any particular training for the fitness test but other people I was with had specifically got themselves in shape to complete the test successfully.
If you’re unsure about your fitness levels, you can request a CD Rom from our Recruitment Department which will tell you what level you will need to achieve and you can even book a practice run before the formal test date.
Security Checks
All members of the Constabulary, police officers and police staff, have to be security checked. These are carried out during the recruitment process and you are unable to start until you have received full clearance
Starting training
Training for police officers used to be residential but this changed approximately two years ago.
For Hertfordshire, student officers now attend a site in Letchworth for an initial training programme that lasts 16 weeks.
You receive your uniform the first week – and then in week three, are formally sworn in by a Magistrate at Stevenage Magistrates Court. This involves repeating an oath to the Queen to uphold the office of Constable.
The initial programme includes practicals such as role-plays, stopping and processing vehicles, using equipment such as the police radio, staff protection – which is self defence i.e., how to manage conflict, use of baton, handcuffs and PAVA – which is the incapacitant spray and first aid.
You also continue with the fitness training throughout the training programme which includes going for runs, circuit training, volleyball etc. This really helps with team building.
Theory-wise we have lessons on the law and how to implement it, police procedures and diversity.
It isn’t easy – you have to learn 79 definitions of common offences and throughout the programme, you are constantly assessed and have to complete written knowledge checks to check you are up to standard on everything.
The training was more intense than I thought – and I underestimated the amount of studying I would have to do in my own time. I would be at Letchworth between 9am and 4pm but on average, I would spend about another hour and a half to two hours, just studying at home or working with other student officers.
Passing out
After completing the final knowledge check, we had a passing out ceremony at Police Headquarters where family and friends came to see us get presented with a certificate by a Chief Officer of the Constabulary.
Placements
After the excitement of the ceremony, the training on the ground begins! You are sent on four five-week attachments with operational police officer teams.
Before you start with each team, you have a week’s training related to that attachment at another training centre in Stevenage.
I have just started my first attachment which is Safer Neighbourhoods. I am based at Borehamwood Police Station, working with the Neighbourhood Team that covers the town and surrounding areas.
I will tell you all about it when I next update my Plog.
