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First it was boots, now police are told to buy their own stationery
9:57am Sunday 14th October 2007
POLICE officers have been told they will not be given diaries - as part of cost-cutting measures by North Yorkshire Police.
Bobbies working in some departments have been told they will have to buy their own diaries for 2008 or use electronic ones on their computers.
But some officers, including detectives with York CID, say the Outlook Express diaries will be no use - because they can't take their computers to court or meetings.
One officer said: "It's ridiculous. They only cost a couple of quid and surely every company provides diaries for its employees? The Outlook ones are all very well and good, but we aren't always in the office to use them.
"What if you're in court or at a meeting and you need to put a date in your diary? I know they're making cut backs but this just seems silly."
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said officers who needed diaries for their "specific role" would still be provided with them.
He said: "The provision of diaries is managed on a departmental basis in conjunction with the force's Business Support Department. The organisation constantly monitors and reviews its expenditure on such items in line with prudent financial management guidelines.
"If a member of staff requires a diary for their specific role, then they will be provided with one. If there is no specific requirement, then the use of the electronic diary readily available on the internal e-mail system is more appropriate.
"A large number of staff also receive their own diary each year through their membership of the Police Federation or Unison."
The move comes after a one-off scheme to provide officers with free pairs of Magnum boots was also axed.
But a spokesman said officers would still be able to claim a tax allowance towards the cost of their boots.
More than 1,000 people have already backed our Fund Our Force campaign to urge the Government to abandon proposals which would see the North Yorkshire Police facing a £10 million funding cut.
Your Say YourPress
Bemused, says...
11:22pm Mon 15 Oct 07
Also, would cause too many problems, in Hollywood for example, where all the leading actors of the day would fight to play the super-hero that I am, in the subsequent blockbuster action film.
Oh the burden of having had such an exciting life, you just can't imagine.
Mr Niceguy, York says...
10:18pm Mon 15 Oct 07
Bemused wrote:The O.F.A. was only designed to keep us in the dark, it's about time someone 'put the light on'!
30 years? That's a long time to be in the force!Veritable eternity I do assure you.Come on, you must have something exciting to tell?It's the Official Secrets Act, rather crimps your style.
Oh, what a wealth of literate knowledge that would be.
Could your arm not be twisted to do it anonomously,
I'd buy twenty copies and throw in a good pair of boots?
Bemused, says...
8:44pm Mon 15 Oct 07
30 years?
That's a long time to be in the force!
Veritable eternity I do assure you.
Come on, you must have something exciting to tell?
It's the Official Secrets Act, rather crimps your style.
Mr Niceguy, York says...
7:17pm Mon 15 Oct 07
Bemused wrote:30 years?
I'm just eager like everyone else to here more about all of your daring escapades.What precisely are you on about? You might find it a 'daring escapade' that over the course of 30 years I actually got to meet Special Constables and attended road accidents, but I do assure you it was rather mundane most of the time. However, I suppose these things are exciting if you are an insignificant non achiever!
That's a long time to be in the force!
Come on, you must have something exciting to tell?
It's strange, but getting slightly off the subject of this comments column. I've never heard of a policeman writing an autobiography?
I reckon you'd make a tidy sum.
Don't take my comments to heart bud, I just love a bit of frisk!
I'm having a little competition on here to see who 'bites' the most!
'Not Jimbob' takes the biscuit up to now with a points score well above average.
He's going to take some beating!
He's a class act!
He should change his user-name to 'Jack Russel', he bites for fun!
Bemused, says...
4:59pm Mon 15 Oct 07
I'm just eager like everyone else to here more about all of your daring escapades.
What precisely are you on about? You might find it a 'daring escapade' that over the course of 30 years I actually got to meet Special Constables and attended road accidents, but I do assure you it was rather mundane most of the time.
However, I suppose these things are exciting if you are an insignificant non achiever!
Mr Niceguy, York says...
3:39pm Mon 15 Oct 07
Bemused wrote:No, I'm just eager like everyone else to here more about all of your daring escapades.
My, you've led quite a colourful life......No, what's your vested interest, are you a Special or a PCSO?
Reading your comments about everything you've done, how you just 'happened to be there' when this and that happened? You must be a very active person, everywhere something happens, you're there?
Come on , tell us some more.
Do you like worther's originals and do you smoke a pipe?
Tell us about your last undercover mission.
Bemused, says...
2:29pm Mon 15 Oct 07
My, you've led quite a colourful life......
No, what's your vested interest, are you a Special or a PCSO?
Mr Niceguy, York says...
11:18am Mon 15 Oct 07
Bemused wrote:My, you've led quite a colourful life, there appears to be nothing you haven't been involved in?
Specials deserve our respect, it cant be easy entering a Police station with next to no training into an environment that is so fast-paced. I know how some officers get frustrated when Specials leave paperwork half finished, or they have to pick up a job following an arrest, but Specials, like PCSOs, perform a worthwhile function nonetheless.I think you've proved me right Patsy, they are as much use now as they were in the past. As for-deserve our respect, it cant be easy entering a Police station with next to no training into an environment that is so fast-paced.I would call it bloody thick skinned. Just one thing -the hard-bitten SergeantT'was me in a former life! Things never improve in the police force. Due to consistently poor leadership at the higher levels, they only get worse.
Tell us about the time when you single handedly took on ten Germans in a machine gun post at Dunkirk.
Or the details of the incident when you raised a U-Boat by throwing depth charges at it from the beach.
YAAAaaaawwwwwnnnnnzz
zzzzzzz.............
Bemused, says...
10:08am Mon 15 Oct 07
Specials deserve our respect, it cant be easy entering a Police station with next to no training into an environment that is so fast-paced. I know how some officers get frustrated when Specials leave paperwork half finished, or they have to pick up a job following an arrest, but Specials, like PCSOs, perform a worthwhile function nonetheless.
I think you've proved me right Patsy, they are as much use now as they were in the past. As for-
deserve our respect, it cant be easy entering a Police station with next to no training into an environment that is so fast-paced.
I would call it bloody thick skinned. Just one thing -
the hard-bitten Sergeant
T'was me in a former life!
Things never improve in the police force. Due to consistently poor leadership at the higher levels, they only get worse.
york1900, York says...
7:39am Mon 15 Oct 07
that way the high command will have more money to waste on everything that is of no use they may even get some more officers to do paperwork
Patsy Pepper, York says...
2:33am Mon 15 Oct 07
Specials deserve our respect, it cant be easy entering a Police station with next to no training into an environment that is so fast-paced. I know how some officers get frustrated when Specials leave paperwork half finished, or they have to pick up a job following an arrest, but Specials, like PCSOs, perform a worthwhile function nonetheless.
Would you all berate charity volunteers for doing unpaid work?
Bemused, says...
12:15am Mon 15 Oct 07
Bemused, says...
12:15am Mon 15 Oct 07
Posted by: Nimby, York on 11:02pm Sun 14 Oct 07
Hobby Bobbies ARE a waste of space. How many other jobs would tolerate an updaid, unwelcome, untrained person tinkering about with what is a highly complex job. Those hobby bobbies who think they are doing a good job are simply swallowing the guff sold to them by management. How many hobby bobbies know of an amateur working for free in their industry. They were introduced as an emergency measure - not they save money and the job suffers. Wake up you muppets - you are being taken for a ride.
Hobby Bobbies ARE a waste of space. How many other jobs would tolerate an updaid, unwelcome, untrained person tinkering about with what is a highly complex job. Those hobby bobbies who think they are doing a good job are simply swallowing the guff sold to them by management. How many hobby bobbies know of an amateur working for free in their industry. They were introduced as an emergency measure - not they save money and the job suffers. Wake up you muppets - you are being taken for a ride.
Couldn't have put it better myself.
Nimby, York says...
11:06pm Sun 14 Oct 07
And hobby bobbies are a cost saving measure...
Nimby, York says...
11:05pm Sun 14 Oct 07
Nimby, York says...
11:02pm Sun 14 Oct 07
Patsy Pepper, York says...
9:55pm Sun 14 Oct 07
Bemused, says...
9:14pm Sun 14 Oct 07
a traffic officer would deal with serious RTC's.
That's novel. They used to bide their time arriving and pull up with a screech in their high powered cars. "Leave it with you kid", was what we got. Actually, serious RTCs as they are called today are no big deal and do NOT require roads closed off for many hours on end and resultant paralysis of the our road network.
Frankly L I don't believe you because I know what's involved and the time it takes to do jobs and the knowledge and experience required.
It used to take 13 weeks at training college, and month in accompany with a senior constable, then two lots of two week refresher courses plus other training days and of course doing the job full time, to make a fairly competent police officer.
And then only after about about five years. Part timers just can't get to that level.
L, York says...
8:57pm Sun 14 Oct 07
Bemused, says...
7:12pm Sun 14 Oct 07
There are still some officers that think like you
All the ones I know and worked with over 30 years, and I hazard a guess most regular police officers today, although an attitude change towards them seemed to click in at Chief Inspector rank!
What real use are they? Can they deal with complex situations, arrest, charge, then the most important bits, take witness statements and put together a prosecution file? Can they deal with road accidents from the scene through to doing a prosecution file if required?
Answer is no, they half do jobs for hard pressed regular officers to pick up the pieces, and it's always easier to do things from start to finish, not trying to make sense of a bodged job.
Specials have a role in times of emergency, but they have increasingly been used as cheap labour on an everyday basis.
Without them more regular officers would have to be employed, and Joe Public would get a better service.
bjb, York says...
6:33pm Sun 14 Oct 07
admiralsmurf, Malton says...
6:28pm Sun 14 Oct 07
L, York says...
5:55pm Sun 14 Oct 07
Bemused, says...
5:30pm Sun 14 Oct 07
Home Office Circular 40 / 2005
Special Constabulary: Review Of Allowances
Implementation Date: 01/08/2005
Boot allowance
Entitlement to the £30 boot allowance is withdrawn. Instead, Chief Officers should provide appropriate footwear directly or specials may claim a footwear allowance as a valid out of pocket expense. In the latter
case, expenditure reasonably incurred by specials on footwear can be paid at the discretion of the Chief Officer.
So one way or another they are not out of pocket on their boots. Why are Mark and L not singing from the same song sheet I wonder?
In my experience Specials were not much good for anything other than directing traffic under close supervision. Criminal Law is too complex to be enforced by amateurs.
They were intended for emergencies such as war or serious civil disorder.
Their inappropriate use is proof of how ineffectual is the Police Federation!
L, York says...
4:53pm Sun 14 Oct 07
ouserower, york says...
4:34pm Sun 14 Oct 07
L, York says...
3:57pm Sun 14 Oct 07
As a volunteer, that is exactly what we do, and the majority of us don't want recognition for this, let alone freebies!!
Bemused, says...
3:54pm Sun 14 Oct 07
Why are you paid for upkeep of a uniform that is provided free in the first place? What upkeep?
Just dawned on me - dry cleaning?
Bemused, says...
3:00pm Sun 14 Oct 07
Pay and benefits
What rewards will you get when you volunteer as a special constable?
Traditionally the specials are volunteers, and do not receive pay for their work. However, a small number of forces are experimenting with a system in which specials are paid a local allowance in return for specific commitments. Contact your chosen force to find out if it is taking part.
While you are not likely to be paid, your uniform will be provided free of charge, and you will be reimbursed for any expenses you incur in your work.
How much are you paid, Mark, apart from boot allowance and expenses?
Why are you paid for upkeep of a uniform that is provided free in the fist place? What upkeep?
Mark, york says...
2:21pm Sun 14 Oct 07
nickersonpower wrote:Well i can asure you that i get paid and an allowance for footwear, meals and upkeep of uniform, the stationary is going a little to far but note books will still be supplied.
What about Special Constables? They get paid nothing...
Peter, york says...
1:44pm Sun 14 Oct 07
One officer said: "It's ridiculous. They only cost a couple of quid and surely every company provides diaries for its employees
NO THEY DO NOT WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD !!!!
Bemused, says...
1:34pm Sun 14 Oct 07
Used to get a diary from the Police Federation maybe free I can't remember, and another from the International Police Association I am still am a member of.
They cost peanuts anyway, which is what they must cost the Police Authority due to their buying power.
For a meaningful saving, scrap PCSOs and save around £2.6 million! They wouldn't be missed.
nickersonpower, Durham says...
1:08pm Sun 14 Oct 07
bjb, York says...
12:35pm Sun 14 Oct 07
Sorry you cannot hold the building industry as any sort of comparison. Until recently Health and Safety and secure employment were dirty words and concepts that employers would not touch with a bargepole. They would not pay your stamp let alone supply protective clothing/equipment.
BL, says...
11:55am Sun 14 Oct 07
Biggun, York says...
11:54am Sun 14 Oct 07
bjb, York says...
11:05am Sun 14 Oct 07
Bemused, says...
10:10am Sun 14 Oct 07
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Mr Niceguy, York says...
11:24pm Mon 15 Oct 07
I meant the 'Official Secrets Act' and not the 'Official Freemason's Act!