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 Stevefamine wrote:
I'm in the process of changing careers now from finance to law enforcement before the pay disparity gets too intense. As on now I can jump careers and I won't take a massive pay cut. Early stages and hopefully the probation period soon.
Awesome, best of luck dude. Please keep me posted.

You've mentioned Aspergers - I have no idea how that will affect things with all honestly. I have asthma. This 100% affected my application.
Everyone on the spectrum has unique problems but for me its...

-lack of confidence in social situations, especially in groups.
-I'm working on this, getting out and engaging more in sports clubs.
-difficulty reading body language
-mild sensory sensitivity
-some people on the spectrum experience sensory overload as physical pain. I don't get it that bad, but it tends to act as a low level stressor and a distraction.
-a tendency to interpret people's words "literally"
-(I'm generally good at reading context, so I won't do things that might be stupid or dangerous even when thats what the other person "literally" said, but I do tend to take things at face value and not read subtext
well...which makes me an endless source of amusement for my Dad. )
-some need for structure and routine.


You're also in the UK so I can give no real input besides the generics.

The only other tips I can say is - at least in the US:

- Keep on top of your physical fitness. I'm an active cyclist and passed the test without issue but they flagged my asthma. I spend around 10 hours a week doing cardio and lifting. It's great for your health and well being anyway
I'm getting there. God knows what my BMI was 2 years ago when I began Karate. My BMI was 35+ in April when I started running. Now its 31. I'm not yet fit enough to pass selection in the Police/RAF this year, but perhaps by this time next year. I run 9 miles a week (which will increase as I get fitter and start joining longer runs with the running club) and do 3.5 hours of martial arts a week.
- Understand what they're looking for when hiring, volunteer or be familiar with a few officers of the precinct or area you'd prefer to work in and see if they have availability
I submitted a volunteering application form this week. And there are regular local PACT meetings (where residents can raise concerns about crime and Policing with Police representatives) which I could attend to learn about local Policing and maybe chat to officers afterwards.
- Mention a martial arts on your resume and actively purse one as a sport. Most of your fellow officers will also have memberships at local clubs/gyms
Yup. Karate and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. And I'll be starting Archery and Horse Riding in the next week. Might join a Gymn at some point./color]
- Get your certs and study!
[color=red]-currently studying Mental Health Awareness (a low level qualification but could lead to higher qualifications or volunteering/employment with charities).
- Have a history of nearly zero drug use and a clean record. Maybe a ticket or two from 3+ years ago. I had to sit down and explain two tickets from 2011 and they contacted the officer - who remembered nothing about it. With the drugs, mention you've tried things, but in your youth.
-I've been teetotal for most of my life, and only drink socially. Never taken drugs, never even smoked. I was questioned by Police at home once in my Youth, but thats it, no action was taken and I didn't get a warning or a criminal record AFAIK, it was over 13 years ago. Thats the sum total of my interaction with the Police, I don't know any officers by name.
- They check your credit, have solid credit (this surprised me) its an issue with anti-bribery/coercion if you handle your finances abysmally
-Never had Credit Cards. My car loan is fully paid off. The only debt I have is Student Loans. I don't have much of a Credit track record, but what I do have (Car loan, debit card overdrafts) is clean.



From a friend who is one:

- Charisma/Social Ability/great attitude with dealing with lower class individuals that will hate you.
-I've worked with "lower class" for years and gotten along well with most. Had one nearly-violent incident 2 years ago when I was threatened at work (he was bullying and harrassing me over several months, and I became very disrespectful and hostile in response. In hindsight I could have handled it better). Never had a nasty falling out like that since. But I'm not especially charismatic, I'm a very quiet person who tends to keep to himself. So I'll have to work on that. Karate and Jiu Jitsu is helping with confidence, I spar with some scary guys and MMA fighters at Jiu Jitsu.
- Stay away from mentioning a strong political affiliation. Pretend you're a teacher surrounded by children and avoid slurs.
-I've never held a political membership, and I'm a floating voter. Besides a strong dislike for the EU, I have no strong political beliefs or positions. Arguing on Dakka Dakka is the sum total of my political engagement.
- Have training with fire arms before signing up, this deters them from taking you seriously if you have no military/experience. It will be brought up frequently.
-Not necessary in the UK. But if I choose to go into the RAF Police, it'll be part of basic training and a moot point anyway.
- Simple is always better, don't exaggerate ever if you have an inability to perform a task, handle reports, and promises
- Financial stress can ruin your job, have a spouse that works or roommates. Overtime is 20-30% of your yearly income.
-currently single.
- I quote "Favors don't exist" early in your career
- As with coworkers in an office setting "don't drink after the job" - you may get pulled in at any time to handle a report or come back to verify something and you have to be sober.
-I rarely drink anyway. I can happily give up alcohol entirely.

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:

 Orlanth wrote:

Spoiler:

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:

 Orlanth wrote:
In any case police will open up avenues for gun training, for civilian police this will be optional. However the UK has strict laws now on gun handling if you have ANY form of mental health condition. Lines are blurred for those in service though sometimes, so you will be handled on a case by case basis.

Autism is not a mental health condition (though many people on the spectrum do suffer from mental health issues relating to their difficulties with Autism) . Its a development disorder, a little bit like a learning disability. The RAF medical disqualifications document (on the recruitment website) states that ASD is considered on a case by case basis (this has actually changed recently, a year ago it was an automatic disqualification).

I don't have any mental health disorders currently diagnosed, though I have been seeing a mental health support worker, but only because her charity overlaps with Autism and they also help support people on the spectrum. Really so far she's just been there as someone for me to confide in, as I didn't feel comfortable confiding in my family. Talking to a stranger helped, and has helped make massive improvements in my confidence according to my family.

You mentioned Aspergers though, which is on the spectrum. It still may or may not be relevant. Were you to try and get a civic firearms certificate you might get a mandatory fail. I did say it would be taken case by case basis for fitness of public service, and your advice from RAF careers mirrors this. It's not an issue you can entirely ignore though and I don't know if you can appeal if the assessors turn you down.

It is good to see that the stance is loosening on disqualification, though staff retention and recruiting difficulties have a lot to do with that. The current legislation is very knee-jerk though and not evenly applied.

Aspergers is the American term. It no longer exists as a diagnosis in the UK as I understand it, its all just Autism Spectrum Disorder with varying degrees of how high or low functioning a person is. Apparently I'm high functioning (even more so than my Uncle who requires certain allowances and accommodations from his employer) and no special requirements for me have been identified yet.

Like I said, I know its a potential barrier but its still worth a try.

I'll see what the careers advisor says next Tuesday.

Well that doesn't sound too bad, good luck Tuesday. However mental health is only a small portion of the content I wrote up for you.
It's useful that a number of Dakkaites responding to you are giving similar warnings, particularly with regards to being shoehorned into becoming a PCSO. Hope all the back and forth on autism isn't covering over the real advice to be gleaned here.

Also +1 for those who think non-military firearms training hurts application in the UK.

I am not sure on this next bit, but according to friends from Horse Guards they strongly prefer recruits not to know how to ride either, so the army can teach them from scratch the army way. This may or may not be true of mounted police. It may well be, after all you get cavalry training not riding lessons. I don't know to say more on this.

The Police Service Of Northern Ireland is the only ‘ordinary’ police force in the uk to routinely carry firearms. In England, Scotland and Wales they’re reserved for special Swat team level teams.

@ Shadow Captain

Best of luck for Tuesday.

Is there a specialty you’d like to...well, specialise in? CID, dog squad, traffic?

Honestly I have no idea. Dog handler would be cool.

I hate driving (though I do own a car) and have always found it stressful, so probably not traffic.

I've been enjoying Karate and Jiu Jitsu, so I'm more inclined towards the more physical type roles. The stereotypical Bobby on the beat I guess. I'm not thinking so far ahead as to consider specialisation yet.

I did a Bsc in Crime Scene Science, so I'm familiar with fingerprinting, photography, evidence procedures etc (though it was 5 years ago and I'm very rusty). So that aspect of the role of a Police Constable (collecting evidence, paperwork, etc) will be familiar.

Best of luck for Tuesday.

Its not an interview, just an appointment with an RAF careers advisor. But thanks.

21+ years as a LEO/peace officer in NY state. From what I expierenced, they want squeaky clean, preferably college educated people with "critical" skills.

Speak Spanish or another in demand language? Your a high value/low effort recruit material. Low effort recruits get pushed into the next academy class quicker. Imagine your an investigator with 40+ potential recruits to investigate. Do you think they have time to spend on young dirtbags that drugged/drunkenly staggered through middle school committing various acts of delinquency? To bring such people into the job?

Things that will help:
1. Speak that second language. NYS departments have a language list that they keep & will call on for a crisis or case by case circumstances. I have been involved in things way above my pay grade just because I was needed. That's just how it goes.

2. Have a clean, boring, uninteresting life.
Not saying I'm an angel, I've just never got caught. My neighbors have no idea who I am.

3. Social Media is a trap.
Those pics of you & friends drunk, half naked and your face buried in some girls chest at the bar? Maybe I'm old school but in NYC we call that evidence. They will see it, so start scrubbing your public shame.

4. Go to school or volunteer for something.
No college? Consider going back strategically to improve your chances. Dont bother trying to enroll in formal programs, aim for a certificate classes. Take those Spanish/Arabic lessons. Learn Linux or Python networking/programming.

Volunteer at your church--get to know the social pillars of your community. They will turn into you references when your investigator asks for them. Who do you want your investigator to talk to? Your rowdy mates or the local vicar that really appreciates your volunteer work? Nuff said

The idea here is to look like your curious about improving yourself in meaningful, wholesome activity.

5. Don't volunteer your weirdness.
Telling them about your interests in BJJ/MMA is not recommended. The archery thing? No, please no. Your antique brass knuckle collection? I wouldn't mention it. The wargamming hobby should be kept to yourself.

6. Be in shape & always dress well whenever you leave the house. Appearances do count.

The idea is that you want to present them with the most vanilla version of yourself as possible. Anything that gets the investigators attention is a bad thing.

They desperately want as close to a West Point graduate as they can get. It's up to you to make them think that's exactly what their getting.

My local cops have started big time recruiting again for the first time in years. Last time they did I was still in university. I don’t think I could do it though...not whilst my grandad is still alive. Because reasons.