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2018 Campaign

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Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 271 ✭✭Lockie101


    It is not my first time but the way I see it is that no matter if they want 10 officers, 100 officers or 300 officers... I want to try my best and work as hard as I can to get my place on that merit list. IMO if the amount of spaces available worry and concern you rather than motivate you to be one of those officers on the merit list then we have different views on this process and the end goal


  • Registered Users Posts: 94 ✭✭Njim91


    Lockie101 wrote: »
    It is not my first time but the way I see it is that no matter if they want 10 officers, 100 officers or 300 officers... I want to try my best and work as hard as I can to get my place on that merit list. IMO if the amount of spaces available worry and concern you rather than motivate you to be one of those officers on the merit list then we have different views on this process and the end goal

    Absolutely pal, it's all motivation. Like I said before, I know everyone who really wants this will give 100% and I don't doubt you when you say the same. I hope that everyone gets their chance one way or another. Initial post was merely looking for people opinions is all. Im very much looking forward to the 1st of October and getting the ball rolling on this campaign!


  • Registered Users Posts: 271 ✭✭Lockie101


    Yeah of course, I didn’t see it any other way! I am looking forward to it and getting hopefully further than I did last year... Less than two weeks until i get a new work contract and I can’t decide if I’m going take it or not for fear of having to leave it soon after starting


  • Registered Users Posts: 94 ✭✭Njim91


    Lockie101 wrote: »
    Yeah of course, I didn’t see it any other way! I am looking forward to it and getting hopefully further than I did last year... Less than two weeks until i get a new work contract and I can’t decide if I’m going take it or not for fear of having to leave it soon after starting

    Assuming there are no legal or financial implications on leaving the new job, I'd take it. If it's better pay or experience or whatever the benefit, the worst that can happen is that you turn to your boss and say "sorry mate, thanks for the opportunity but I've decided to take another job with long unsociable hours and less pay :) (if that's the case) and if asked why, you explain that there is no better calling than to help, protect and serve your community :)
    I'm in the same boat, up for a promotion in work which is a new contract. Plan is to take it, gain experience and save a bit more and leave if I'm fortunate enough to get the call to GV.


  • Registered Users Posts: 271 ✭✭Lockie101


    I completely agree under normal circumstances but the new contract is with the MDP which begins with 17 weeks training meaning that I potentially could be in the job less than 6 months after 17 weeks training before telling my boss “Thanks for the training and all but.. see ya”. Also, during the training process they sent recruits home at weekends which means sending me home to NI every weekend so at the end of the 17 weeks I would have costed the MDP... ahem... A LOT... in travel expenses. Which, on a personal level, i would feel absolutely **** leaving the job after them paying for that for me, not to mention the cost to actually train me and put me through a full AFO course


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  • Registered Users Posts: 94 ✭✭Njim91


    Lockie101 wrote: »
    I completely agree under normal circumstances but the new contract is with the MDP which begins with 17 weeks training meaning that I potentially could be in the job less than 6 months after 17 weeks training before telling my boss “Thanks for the training and all but.. see ya”. Also, during the training process they sent recruits home at weekends which means sending me home to NI every weekend so at the end of the 17 weeks I would have costed the MDP... ahem... A LOT... in travel expenses. Which, on a personal level, i would feel absolutely **** leaving the job after them paying for that for me, not to mention the cost to actually train me and put me through a full AFO course

    Scratch my last comment so. That's a whole other kettle of fish haha! MDP very good outfit I'm told so hope it works itself out one way or another but I don't envy having to make that choice. On the subject of AFO, would I be correct in saying that PC's are technically AFO's as they authorised to carry ppws? Or would I be wrong in saying that there is a lot more to an AFO's course than just the handling and operating a ppw?


  • Registered Users Posts: 271 ✭✭Lockie101


    Yeah, its a whole other situation that puts me in a right pickle... Yeah, their constables are fully firearms trained to the same level as PSNI ARV units which is pretty cool, in Scotland (which is where my position would be) I would be authorised to carry an SA80 from day one on the job BUT because it is a mainland force they are not authorised to bring any of their weapons home, even their handgun. Their course is 10 weeks of law, arrest procedures and all that fun stuff and then 7 weeks of firearms starting from handguns and working your way up to the long arms.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 98 ✭✭Arniez12


    Njim91 wrote: »
    Mate this is for the 2018 campaign..... They haven't even opened the applications yet but you can assume there are probably about 350 plus places easily and that will work through a merit list with better scoring people getting the first crack at later stages.

    Agree 100%! Coming off the back of last year's application and still on the merit list for 1710, I have a good grasp at what's ahead. Well that assumption of 350 plus is what I'm hoping for but again we've no idea until the budget is announced. I guess we'll just have watch this space and in the mean time, best prepare ourselves for the long road ahead :o

    Where are you on 1710 ML mate? You not hoping to get a spot


  • Registered Users Posts: 94 ✭✭Njim91


    Arniez12 wrote: »
    Where are you on 1710 ML mate? You not hoping to get a spot

    Between 700-730. Looking to score higher this time round now that I've had a taste of what's to come. Aiming to better myself with this campaign.


  • Registered Users Posts: 94 ✭✭Njim91


    Lockie101 wrote: »
    Yeah, its a whole other situation that puts me in a right pickle... Yeah, their constables are fully firearms trained to the same level as PSNI ARV units which is pretty cool, in Scotland (which is where my position would be) I would be authorised to carry an SA80 from day one on the job BUT because it is a mainland force they are not authorised to bring any of their weapons home, even their handgun. Their course is 10 weeks of law, arrest procedures and all that fun stuff and then 7 weeks of firearms starting from handguns and working your way up to the long arms.

    Sounds like a great carreer in itself. Obviously working at home would be good, but that sounds like a great opportunity.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 182 ✭✭BlueCop8790


    Sounds like a tough decision to make mate. I think you should way up the pro’s and con’s of both jobs. If you accepted your offer in the mdp and decided to apply for the PSNI, would you be able to get out of training to come home for the PSNI recruitment stages ? The mdp looks like a unique and exciting job but from what I hear the PSNI and mdp are very different jobs. All the less i do not envy being in your shoes.


  • Registered Users Posts: 271 ✭✭Lockie101


    No doubt its a fantastic career but the PSNI is where my heart is at and I want to police here at home rather than away somewhere else. I haven’t asked about time off training for the assessment centre, it being the only stage that overlaps. But I can’t really say “yo bruv, gimme some time off training to go do a test for another force”


  • Registered Users Posts: 271 ✭✭Lockie101


    I have a random question/proposal here because I don’t know the age or the hobbies or anyone on here but does anyone here play games? I always like being friendly with people who have similar interests and I have made a few friends in the PSNI that I play games and talk to so just putting it out there


  • Registered Users Posts: 173 ✭✭MikeOneJuliet


    Njim91 wrote: »
    Lockie101 wrote: »
    I completely agree under normal circumstances but the new contract is with the MDP which begins with 17 weeks training meaning that I potentially could be in the job less than 6 months after 17 weeks training before telling my boss “Thanks for the training and all but.. see ya”. Also, during the training process they sent recruits home at weekends which means sending me home to NI every weekend so at the end of the 17 weeks I would have costed the MDP... ahem... A LOT... in travel expenses. Which, on a personal level, i would feel absolutely **** leaving the job after them paying for that for me, not to mention the cost to actually train me and put me through a full AFO course

    Scratch my last comment so. That's a whole other kettle of fish haha! MDP very good outfit I'm told so hope it works itself out one way or another but I don't envy having to make that choice. On the subject of AFO, would I be correct in saying that PC's are technically AFO's as they authorised to carry ppws? Or would I be wrong in saying that there is a lot more to an AFO's course than just the handling and operating a ppw?

    PSNI Constables are not AFO's, just trained to carry a PPW. The only bonus to it is that you become very desirable to mainland forces because of your firearms and counter terrorism experience and training.


  • Registered Users Posts: 173 ✭✭MikeOneJuliet


    Lockie101 wrote: »
    I have a random question/proposal here because I don’t know the age or the hobbies or anyone on here but does anyone here play games? I always like being friendly with people who have similar interests and I have made a few friends in the PSNI that I play games and talk to so just putting it out there

    I know a lot of peelers who are into their computer games, myself included. But you need to remember that you're posting on a public forum and have no idea who the other person you're speaking to is, or their intentions. Best save that until you're in GV or station to be safe.


  • Registered Users Posts: 271 ✭✭Lockie101


    Sorry, but no one said that PSNI were AFO’s, we were saying that the MDP constables are trained AFO’s be standard whereas in the PSNI it is only the ARV unit that is AFO trained


  • Registered Users Posts: 271 ✭✭Lockie101


    I know a lot of peelers who are into their computer games, myself included. But you need to remember that you're posting on a public forum and have no idea who the other person you're speaking to is, or their intentions. Best save that until you're in GV or station to be safe.

    I understand your worry, but what information is someone going to get from an online gaming profile that isn’t already in the public domain? An officer that I met through Reddit who passed out of GV just there a few weeks ago has me on Steam, doesn’t mean we know each other well or where we live or our life stories, at best the information we have from each other is what game the other is playing at any one time


  • Registered Users Posts: 173 ✭✭MikeOneJuliet


    Lockie101 wrote: »
    Sorry, but no one said that PSNI were AFO’s, we were saying that the MDP constables are trained AFO’s be standard whereas in the PSNI it is only the ARV unit that is AFO trained

    Mmmhhmmm, nope, not really. The question asked if PCs are classed as AFOs as they carry PPWs, that's what my answer was in relation to (if anything it didn't specify MDP or PSNI, but it doesn't hurt to give clarification) . Its a common misconception.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,620 ✭✭✭Banterbus28


    Lockie101 wrote: »
    I know a lot of peelers who are into their computer games, myself included. But you need to remember that you're posting on a public forum and have no idea who the other person you're speaking to is, or their intentions. Best save that until you're in GV or station to be safe.

    I understand your worry, but what information is someone going to get from an online gaming profile that isn’t already in the public domain? An officer that I met through Reddit who passed out of GV just there a few weeks ago has me on Steam, doesn’t mean we know each other well or where we live or our life stories, at best the information we have from each other is what game the other is playing at any one time

    It would be what you let slip over the course of time mate.


  • Registered Users Posts: 173 ✭✭MikeOneJuliet


    Lockie101 wrote: »
    I know a lot of peelers who are into their computer games, myself included. But you need to remember that you're posting on a public forum and have no idea who the other person you're speaking to is, or their intentions. Best save that until you're in GV or station to be safe.

    I understand your worry, but what information is someone going to get from an online gaming profile that isn’t already in the public domain? An officer that I met through Reddit who passed out of GV just there a few weeks ago has me on Steam, doesn’t mean we know each other well or where we live or our life stories, at best the information we have from each other is what game the other is playing at any one time

    How often do you link your Facebook account etc to your gaming platforms? Nearly everyone does it nowadays. Not only that, but loose talk gives away more information than you'd think. He has no way of knowing you're genuine and not someone trying to obtain information from him. No offence, but more fool him.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 271 ✭✭Lockie101


    Ahh, i gotcha now, yeah that could have easily been misread or read differently, my apologies! PC’s ordinarily are not AFO’s but in the case of the MDP, they are. PPW is just a name for a firearm, regardless of size because they are all used for protection purposes. AFO means that they are able to carry more than just a handgun which is standard issue with the PSNI. Sorry for any mix ups


  • Registered Users Posts: 271 ✭✭Lockie101


    How often do you link your Facebook account etc to your gaming platforms? Nearly everyone does it nowadays. Not only that, but loose talk gives away more information than you'd think. He has no way of knowing you're genuine and not someone trying to obtain information from him. No offence, but more fool him.

    Agreed, personally I don’t link social media’s with gaming platforms for security purposes but yeah, over time it’s what slips that could hurt. I appreciate the concern guys, I just enjoy the company and chat with others with the same intentions in life :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,620 ✭✭✭Banterbus28


    Lockie101 wrote: »
    Ahh, i gotcha now, yeah that could have easily been misread or read differently, my apologies! PC’s ordinarily are not AFO’s but in the case of the MDP, they are. PPW is just a name for a firearm, regardless of size because they are all used for protection purposes. AFO means that they are able to carry more than just a handgun which is standard issue with the PSNI. Sorry for any mix ups

    In England you must be an AFO to carry a firearm on duty. PSNI are not subject to that legislation


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,620 ✭✭✭Banterbus28


    Hand guns included.

    PSNI you can also be armed with a long arm without being AFO qualified.


  • Registered Users Posts: 271 ✭✭Lockie101


    Yeah, sorry I was just comparing PSNI to MDP. I haven’t much knowledge of other mainland forces, have they got different levels of AFO then? As in an AFO course/Level for handgun and then a further one for long arms or is it all just one that once you go through you are qualified to carry anything?


  • Registered Users Posts: 271 ✭✭Lockie101


    Hand guns included.

    PSNI you can also be armed with a long arm without being AFO qualified.

    I what circumstances? Is that not the point of becoming AFO qualified?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,620 ✭✭✭Banterbus28


    There's

    AFO authorised firearms officers, general duties armed police

    SFOs specialist firearms officers

    CTSFO counter terrorism specialist firearms officers


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,620 ✭✭✭Banterbus28


    Lockie101 wrote: »
    Hand guns included.

    PSNI you can also be armed with a long arm without being AFO qualified.

    I what circumstances? Is that not the point of becoming AFO qualified?

    In high threat areas, crews are triple crewed. Third person is a cover man/woman sometimes has a G36


  • Registered Users Posts: 271 ✭✭Lockie101


    Ahh I forgot about SFO! This gets confusing sometimes ��


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  • Registered Users Posts: 271 ✭✭Lockie101


    In high threat areas, crews are triple crewed. Third person is a cover man/woman sometimes has a G36

    I sometimes see a third crew member in the back of the car in patrols in my town, would they be carrying a long arm? Sounds stupid but I just kinda assumed it was because of a car shortage and they were being forced to triple crew....


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