Are you a police driver?

[BillZZR600]

Again I cannot answer your poll appropriately

No I am not, but would love to have the skills and abilities, I have seen, heard and read, on both two wheels and four.

I do have friends and aquaintances who are Class1 (MC and cars) and riding with them (off duty) is great, I just wish I could cope with being with them when they are ON duty, without getting worried about Pace LO L

[Flexibase]

I am a former police driver, having qualified as both advanced driver and advanced motorcyclist way back in 1969. As you would expect, the training is extremely thorough and it has been a great background for me to share my experience (gained at public expense) by IAM Group Observing and, since retirement from the police, as an IAM Fleet Trainer.

In response to those wishing to be police drivers but not relishing the thought of the first two years' of general police duties, I found them extremely interesting and believe thay are an essential background before specialising in anything such as traffic or, as now termed, road policing.

However, one drawback now is that some forces, perhaps many, combine road policing with armed response which not everyone wants to do - I certainly did not - and means much time spent away from road policing when attend firearms incidents.

[James]

I am a former police driver, having qualified as both advanced driver and advanced motorcyclist way back in 1969. As you would expect, the training is extremely thorough and it has been a great background for me to share my experience (gained at public expense) by IAM Group Observing and, since retirement from the police, as an IAM Fleet Trainer.

In response to those wishing to be police drivers but not relishing the thought of the first two years' of general police duties, I found them extremely interesting and believe thay are an essential background before specialising in anything such as traffic or, as now termed, road policing.

However, one drawback now is that some forces, perhaps many, combine road policing with armed response which not everyone wants to do - I certainly did not - and means much time spent away from road policing when attend firearms incidents.

I think it is important to emphasise just how difficult it is for police officers to become drivers, in terms of you don't "just get" a course, you have to go through a long rigorous process . By difficult I mean you have to complete 2 years service, apply via application form for a course, have an application form good enough to secure you a course, pass a written test, have an eyesight test, pass the course and then pass two post course assessments. This is just for reponse courses. In the 5 and a half years I have done the job, I know of only 3 Advanced Courses that have come out to team's...(they go to specialised units). These courses have been applied for by around 25 people at a time, and the successful applicant is the one that can submit the best written application. It is not base on experience, not on driving ability, not on performance, solely on how you can fill in 7 boxes on an application form. (Equal Opps).

I know of people that have waited 16 years for a driving course, and I also know of probationers that are just out of probation being given advanced courses. This has caused a great deal of low morale and bitterness amongst teams because of course, it always used to be done on service (i.e there was a queue).

Of course, one could apply for a specialised unit, but they have rigorous criteria too. For example, in London, you cannot apply to Traffic unless you are both a Response Driver and also a Motorbike Licence Holder. Many are not both of these things, and those that want to go to Traffic for an Advanced Course cannot. Its a great big game of politics I'm afraid.

[crr003]

Welcome Flexibase!

[keats52]

...have an eyesight test...

I take it this means you need perfect 20/20 vision then - people with glasses, contact lenses, or laser corrected sight need not apply?

[vonhosen]

...have an eyesight test...

I take it this means you need perfect 20/20 vision then - people with glasses, contact lenses, or laser corrected sight need not apply?

No that's not the case.

[Solo]

In fact you can even have an eyesight problem such as a 'squint' or a colour problem and gain an police advanced driving qualification.

[keats52]

No that's not the case.

In fact you can even have an eyesight problem such as a 'squint' or a colour problem and gain an police advanced driving qualification.

Thank you both.

[Roadcraft]

Whilst I appreciate that not everybody would want the 'nasty, dangerous and horrible' sides to policing...

I think every person who is even remotely in advanced driving, would want the opportunity to be trained to the standard of a police advanced driver...and then go on to enjoy (if that is the right phrase)...being allowed to exceed the speed limit (lawfully), blues/twos etc.....or even the perverted pleasure from driving at or below the limit.....and watching the queues form..

[crr003]

I think every person who is even remotely in advanced driving, would want the opportunity to be trained to the standard of a police advanced driver...

Certainly like to try

.....or even the perverted pleasure from driving at or below the limit.....and watching the queues form..

Don't need to be TrafPol for that - HATO will do

[Roadcraft]

Don't need to be TrafPol for that - HATO will do

For the time being...

Until the motoring public finds out their actual powers...and then 'pleasure' will end...

Only to reappear...a little in the future when they increase the powers and they become the PCSOs of the motorways.

[not written in malice, just thought]

[Standard Dave]

It very much depends on which force you work for the policy on driver training my experience is different to Police_Drivers in that I have seen probationers get the standard (response/B&T) course after 15 months service just because they work at a rural station where they need another driver. The courses generally go to who ever is next in terms of level of service when a section is allocated a course.

Advanced courses on division come in fits and starts and almost always go to the most experienced or top performing cops on a section.

[MGF]

How do you determine a police officer's performance? I guess contribution is relatively easy to evaluate but what about achievement (which performance implies)?

How many arrests you make. Ratio of arrests to charge or charge to time taken?

Just wondered if there are 'commercial type' performance indicators for police oficers.

[James]

It very much depends on which force you work for the policy on driver training my experience is different to Police_Drivers in that I have seen probationers get the standard (response/B&T) course after 15 months service just because they work at a rural station where they need another driver. The courses generally go to who ever is next in terms of level of service when a section is allocated a course.

Advanced courses on division come in fits and starts and almost always go to the most experienced or top performing cops on a section.

Dave, as much as I value your opinion and agree this is how it was when I joined (almost 6 years ago), it is the COMPLETE opposite in London. Now, EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING is reliant on 1 thing, an A4 piece of paper. Service and performance comes into the equation 0%. For example, I missed out on my response course at 4 years to a probationer. I only got the course because someone else dropped out. A good friend of mine that has 15 years service has been knocked back 3 times for an advanced course. These 3 courses have gone to two officers with 2.5 and 3 years service, and one officer with 6.

Nothing but a paper excercise Im afraid, unless of course you "know" someone or are in a squad. People please don't think me pessimistic, this is all from someone who joined the job soley to drive and has learnt the system from within. I am now having to specialise to the armed response unit just to get an advanced course and then return to team.

And then comes the debate about Response vs Advanced. Oh dear.

[Rick]

Why would you join the job solely to drive? Personally i would think officers are better learning the basics of the job before doing driving, especially Advanced. Just my opinion of course.