Garda Reserve Experiences

Bren1609 wrote: »

I have two question for any full timers reading this:
1. Which would you consider more valuable. A GR with 5 years experience or a full timer with 1 years experience?

Full timer...even with one week's experience...every time

deadwood wrote: »

no, Michael Collins was not my C.O

Of course not, you were his!

Im just back from London and without sounding bad against the MET, I saw more community support officers than actual police officers which is a bad sign and a false sense of security.

In fact, the area I stayed is a pretty small place on the outskirts of London and there was a picture at the train station 'Meet your local police' it said and had pictures. 4 police officers and 5 support officers (Have blue shoulder numbers).

Is this normal Metman?

Oh and even the CSPO or whetever they are called are better equiped than us.:rolleyes:

Karlito/deadwood,


Most law abiding types just see CSOs as police officers. The government likes it that way.

Although nationally their number is small, CSOs are a highly visible 'police' presence on the streets. Generally they're usually limited to foot patrol, so in so far as you saw loads of em Karlito, that's their job done, all they're really supposed to be is a visible presence.

Imo CSOs have a role in law enforcement, i.e, they're handy to task with jobs like targetting nuisance youths etc but should have the word 'police' removed from their uniform.

However, where are all the Bobbies I hear you ask? In the nick doing paperwork of course!

Cheers for that mate, though I don't equate p/t PSNI officers with Special Constables.....as you say your lads get paid, are looked upon as part-time regulars with the same training and firearms etc. That's a world away from our SCs. Though in fairness, some of our Specials are very good, keen as mustard and switched on. The down side is most of these go on to become regular officers!

Centauro wrote: »

You could probably employ 6 of us for the same price as one senior regular...that gives yoy 6 bods on the street rather than one at 01:30!

On the weekends mate I welcome any assistance I can get, and fair play to the reserves for wanting to give up their free time on a friday/saturday night to deal with the fallout/PO problems......that most regs don't want to deal with. Having spent some time in CID and having now returned to frontline policing I'm glad of the assistance, as is the division in general.

However, I disagree with your final comment; 6 part time coppers can never replace one fully trained and experienced (let alone senior) regular officer. Doing the job as a hobby/part-time is one thing, but it bears very little semblance to doing it 24/7. No offence.

However, I disagree with your final comment; 6 part time coppers can never replace one fully trained and experienced (let alone senior) regular officer. Doing the job as a hobby/part-time is one thing, but it bears very little semblance to doing it 24/7. No offence.[/quote]

No offence taken, but I think you'll find that my "regular"colleagues, and those who are responsible for resource allocation in the PSNI would disagree with you. I police my home town. I've lived, worked and policed here for 22 years. I know the place, and the people inside out. I turn in lots of files, and all my training is bang up to date....I would challenge anyone to work a turn with my squad ( 1 Inspector, 1 Sgt, 6 Cons and 7 POPT's) and Identify who's a regular or who's a part timer. Policing is 70% common sense and the right attitude. The rest can be taught. It's not rocket science. Do you think a part time postman is less competant than a full time one? Or a bus driver? Or a soldier?

No doubt the basic training is import to a degree, but 5 years down the line the fact that you learnt to polish your boots, or spent 4 days learning to operate radio means very little. Recruit the right people, train them, and pay them. You will have an invaluable resource...

1 fully trained officer works 40 hours a week day in day out. His experience after one year is simple far superior to a reserve with 5 years experience in the same station. As is his training, 2 years in total compared to a few weeks.

Guys its a no contest in this area and I find it disheartening to see reserves posting here that they are every bit as good and experienced as the fulltimers. Ever think its this attitude that may be contributing to your downfall?

Your not doing the same job, you dont have the same powers, your not doing the same hours, you dont have the same expereince and you dont have the same training.

Now that might seem very negative but remember that I havent bad mouthed the reserves themselves, I havent condemned the reserves, Im merely pointing out a simple reality. As above, a user didnt know the difference between AGS, AGSI and GRA but yet felt qualified to correct a fulltime member and then be proven wrong.

My own personal opinion, the reserves was handled and setup wrong but thats not fulltimers or the reserves fault. Theres a lot of planks in the reserves with either no brains or too much arrogance however theres plenty with bags of common sense and a good attitude to the job and the fulltimers. I know plenty that fit in both categories, I avoid the idiots and feel sorry for the poor souls that get stuck with them while I welcome the good lads. In fact I quite like and get along well with a lot of the reserves in my station.

Now, the reserves and the fulltimers will get along fine as long as two simple rules are followed.
1. Fulltimers need to appreciate that these people are giving up their time to assist you and on many occasions this has benefited the force, individual members and the public in general. Utilise them because they aint going away.
2. Reserves, remember that we are the professionals and in charge. Theres a reason for that and your never going to surpass us in terms of experience, training, powers or ability.

Karlitosway1978 wrote: »

Theres a lot of planks in the reserves with either no brains or too much arrogance however theres plenty with bags of common sense and a good attitude to the job and the fulltimers.

Isn't that what people say about full time members?

Centauro wrote: »

I think you'll find that my "regular"colleagues, and those who are responsible for resource allocation in the PSNI would disagree with you.

Perhaps, perhaps not. Most officers want their backup to have undergone the same training and have similar skill-set/experience to their own. A reservist with 5 years service does not equate even to a probationary regular officer. That's simple math, and not a bias towards reservists.

I police my home town. I've lived, worked and policed here for 22 years. I know the place, and the people inside out.

As a reservist you have that luxury. As a full-time officer you can be posted/redeployed anywhere the job sees fit, at any time. If the job did this to a reservist and it didn't suit, I'm sure you'd be handing your warrant card back in, as ultimately its not your bread and butter. Regular officers don't have that luxury.

I turn in lots of files, and all my training is bang up to date....I would challenge anyone to work a turn with my squad ( 1 Inspector, 1 Sgt, 6 Cons and 7 POPT's) and Identify who's a regular or who's a part timer.

Would a regular officer on your squad say the same? Personally I find it somewhat alarming that a reservist would profess to be no different, experience/competence-wise etc etc than any regular officer, and claim that it's more advantageous to have a bunch of reservists out on patrol than a experienced senior regular officer.

Policing is 70% common sense and the right attitude. The rest can be taught. It's not rocket science. Do you think a part time postman is less competant than a full time one? Or a bus driver? Or a soldier?

Simple answer is I would suggest that someone who spends 40 hours a week 24/7/365 doing a job will always have more experience than someone who does 4 hours a week or thereabouts. Experience assists in developing competence.

As for what constitutes policing, common sense is a big part, attitude, but equally training and experience; I think a full training program is vitally important to this. Ultimately any individual will only ever be as competent as training allows, experience adds to, and compliments, that.

No doubt the basic training is import to a degree, but 5 years down the line the fact that you learnt to polish your boots, or spent 4 days learning to operate radio means very little. Recruit the right people, train them, and pay them. You will have an invaluable resource...

As above, I take the view that you can't scrimp on basic training. Had you completed the full basic training program you'd know there's a bit more than bulling boots and using a radio. I'm not trying to detract from your service or experience, but the simple fact is that if reservists/specials etc were as competent and effective as regular officers there would be no need to put officers through the entire training and probationary program that is in place. Sure you could put loads of reservists through in a matter of weeks and have all the uniforms you want on the street, and also save a load of cash on pensions and training. Is that the kind of police service you want? Its not what I want.