The journey - not the destination
“What is to blame is the constant demands of the NATURE of the work plus ineffective support networks and a culture of ‘bottle it up’. If you want to have a sensible debate about stress in policing – let’s start there.” Nathan Constable looks at the causes of stress-related sick leave amongst police officers.
Police can no longer be “Plan B”
“It is time to take a stance. It is time to accurately measure this and push back. It is time we tried to change the culture and ensure that other agencies put in proper contingencies instead of relying on the police as ‘Plan B’.” Nathan Constable argues why the police can no longer be Plan B.
Playing the ball: the real risks of Direct Entry into the Police
“My fear is that because Direct Entry superintendents will lack familiarity with policing and with police officers, there will be an automatic if unjustified absence of trust and respect, leaving a vacuum that will fill itself with envy and suspicion.” Rachel Rogers outlines her concerns about direct entry into the police.
Working from seven to eleven every night…
Unpredictability is pretty much the only thing about police work that can be predicted with any certainty. Even the simplest ambitions for a shift get thrown out the window when you walk into the station and get told ‘such and such has happened, kit up and get on the carrier’. Such was the case this […]
Back to school
Two of the largest public institutions in the United Kingdom are taking a bit of a hammering at the moment. The NHS is currently having its performance culture dissected with clinical precision whilst the police are barely out of the news with stories of alleged cover-ups, inappropriate activity and general inadequacy and inefficiency coming out […]
Police mental health
I am aware that several forces are reviewing, revising or writing afresh their internal policies on mental ill-health for staff. Policies about a force’s duty of care towards their police officers and employees. There are various reasons why this is very, very necessary and arguably overdue. Like any organisation, the police service will have staff […]
Six months in… policing
It’s six months since we launched this version of Guerilla Policy. Here’s a selection of some of our favourite posts we’ve published in policing - from cuts to the frontline and policing on the cheap, Police and Crime Commissioners to officers’ use of social media.
Blurring the Thin Blue Line
I think that I am in a majority when I say that there are still too few Police Officers on the streets of England and Wales to do the job expected of us in safety and with efficiency. There are a number of solutions to this problem, but Avon and Somerset Chief Constable, Nick Gargan, is being […]
Police family
Tribe: A social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties Police Family – YOU. When you read the word ‘tribe’ do you associate yourself with it? Or do you think of others? Other people are in ‘tribes’. The Amazonian tribes or the African tribes […]
It must be true because I read it in the Daily Mail
I believe that it is absolutely vital that the public have confidence in their Police. Many have confidence in us. But many others do not. The reasons for having a lack of confidence in the Police are plentiful. It could be that you have been arrested for a crime you commited and so do not […]
Adverse police tweets – is it ACPOs fault?
Another day, another Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) “Guideline Document” – this time on the use of Social Media (SM) by police officers, police staff, volunteers, contracted staff and agency workers. Apparently, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has conducted a review of 1,588 officers active on social media sites, mainly Twitter. They found […]
Frontline Friday round-up 15th February 2013
Our round-up of frontline blogs we liked from the week of 11th February 2013 - this Valentine’s week, relationships that aren’t working well, including between policy and healthcare, the Government and the police, and Ministers’ poor relationship with the facts about the bedroom tax.
Abstaining is NOT a “no” vote
Until about three days ago I had decided to abstain from the forthcoming Police Federation ballot on whether we should attempt to get industrial rights. This was a personal and considered decision based on my own views of the ballot. I do not support it. I do not think police officers should strike and I […]
Stop press
“This is what policing is really about – ordinary officers, dealing with ordinary people, and making a positive difference to their lives, no matter how small and insignificant the encounter might be.” PC Bobby McPeel suggests that recent scandals involving the police should be put in the context of the positive contribution that officers make everyday.