You are nicked. Options

[GMR]

Out of interest, why would someone become a PCSO and not a Special?

If I am right 'specials' are voluntary and don't get paid, while PCSO's do get paid. If I am wrong then I am sure somebody can put be right.

[ossy1]

Out of interest, why would someone become a PCSO and not a Special?

No idea i've done neither, maybe because specials don't get paid!!

[user23]

No idea i've done neither, maybe because specials don't get paid!!

Really? I didn't know that, perhaps that's the main reason.

[Chesapeake]

Out of interest, why would someone become a PCSO and not a Special?

If I am right 'specials' are voluntary and don't get paid, while PCSO's do get paid. If I am wrong then I am sure somebody can put be right.

No idea i've done neither, maybe because specials don't get paid!!

A PCSO's role and a Specials role are quite different. I am not an expert on this subject and I hope that I am giving you the right information as I see it.

The role of the Special is almost exactly that of a Regular, they have the same powers as a Regular but, a Special is a volunteer Police Officer and therefore does not get paid. As Regulars are usually full-time they have to do more of the paperwork and "nitty gritty" stuff than a Special. Regulars can also 'specialise' as in Armed Response, Traffic, Dog Handlers, CID etc whereas at the moment Specials cannot. Specials usually have a full-time paid civillian job as well and give as much time to the Specials role as they are willing to but there are minmum hours that they are expected to do. Most do in excess of those minimum hours. They are basically almost FREE Policemen for the tax payer.

A Special can have many different reasons as to why they volunteer rather than join the Regulars. It may be that the paid job that they do pays at a greater rate than that of a Regular Police Officer and therefore they cannot afford (due to their financial commitments) to change jobs. Contrary to popular belief Police Officers do not get paid a fortune. They might also want to have a SERIOUS dabble in Policing.

A PCSO's role as you can see above from Ossy1's link is quite different to a Regular Police Officer or a Special Police Officer. It is a full time paid job and they carry out a very important link between the public and the Police. You will probably see them walking the 'beat' more often than you will see a Regular or a Special.

A PCSO might want to do a role similar to a Police officer without having to get in at the 'deep end'. As you know GMR they sometimes decide that they like the look of Regular policing and apply to the regulars.

Hope this answers your questions?

[ossy1]

A PCSO's role and a Specials role are quite different. I am not an expert on this subject and I hope that I am giving you the right information as I see it.

The role of the Special is almost exactly that of a Regular, they have the same powers as a Regular but, a Special is a volunteer Police Officer and therefore does not get paid. As Regulars are usually full-time they have to do more of the paperwork and "nitty gritty" stuff than a Special. Regulars can also 'specialise' as in Armed Response, Traffic, Dog Handlers, CID etc whereas at the moment Specials cannot. Specials usually have a full-time paid civillian job as well and give as much time to the Specials role as they are willing to but there are minmum hours that they are expected to do. Most do in excess of those minimum hours. They are basically almost FREE Policemen for the tax payer.

A Special can have many different reasons as to why they volunteer rather than join the Regulars. It may be that the paid job that they do pays at a greater rate than that of a Regular Police Officer and therefore they cannot afford (due to their financial commitments) to change jobs. Contrary to popular belief Police Officers do not get paid a fortune. They might also want to have a SERIOUS dabble in Policing.

A PCSO's role as you can see above from Ossy1's link is quite different to a Regular Police Officer or a Special Police Officer. It is a full time paid job and they carry out a very important link between the public and the Police. You will probably see them walking the 'beat' more often than you will see a Regular or a Special.

A PCSO might want to do a role similar to a Police officer without having to get in at the 'deep end'. As you know GMR they sometimes decide that they like the look of Regular policing and apply to the regulars.

Hope this answers your questions?

Spot on.

[JeffG]

Out of interest, why would someone become a PCSO and not a Special?

Aren't PCSO's paid?

[Chesapeake]

A PCSO's role as you can see above from Ossy1's link is quite different to a Regular Police Officer or a Special Police Officer. It is a full time paid job and they carry out a very important link between the public and the Police. You will probably see them walking the 'beat' more often than you will see a Regular or a Special.

Aren't PCSO's paid?

You must have missed what I wrote. I have to admit that it was a rather long, rambling, boring looking post.

[user23]

Hope this answers your questions?

It certianly does. thanks.

[Guest_Bill1_*]

There is nothing wrong with being a little pedantic or even largely pedantic my friend.... it is all part of the chase. And if you feel you've caught me out then my hat goes off to you my dear

As for 'epaulette numbers' or 'shoulder numbers' I can only speak as I find or what I am told. Even my daughters boyfriend refers to them as epaulette should numbers. Granted he has only started out and is going through his training. That is why I took my enquiry further afield and higher up the food chain. Beyond that I can say no more.

Your daughters boyfriend refers to them as "epualette should numbers"?????????

[Anon2]

Of course it is called a shoulder number... I never said it wasn't called that. But it is also called the other as well.

And just in case that wasn't enough evidence for you....here's some more!!! http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/joinus/a...signia-officers

I know GMR will come back and say that they are called both 'shoulder' and 'epaulette' numbers and that he got this info from 'higher up the food chain' but PLEASE can he show any official referral to the second term? I think not.

[Iommi]

And just in case that wasn't enough evidence for you....here's some more!!! http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/joinus/a...signia-officers

I know GMR will come back and say that they are called both 'shoulder' and 'epaulette' numbers and that he got this info from 'higher up the food chain' but PLEASE can he show any official referral to the second term? I think not.

Talk about w*nking something dry.

[Anon2]

Talk about w*nking something dry.

I know, but good fun all the same!!! Would he let anyone else off the hook I ask?

[GMR]

Your daughters boyfriend refers to them as "epualette should numbers"?????????

He just called them 'epaulettes'.

[GMR]

And just in case that wasn't enough evidence for you....here's some more!!! http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/joinus/a...signia-officers

I know GMR will come back and say that they are called both 'shoulder' and 'epaulette' numbers and that he got this info from 'higher up the food chain' but PLEASE can he show any official referral to the second term? I think not.

All I can say is what I was told they were called by real police officers. You only say you are police officers. Taking the pee won't change that.

[GMR]

I know, but good fun all the same!!! Would he let anyone else off the hook I ask?

But isn't that what forums are for? I have a saying; if they didn't exist we'd have to invent them. And yes, all good fun.

[Anon2]

All I can say is what I was told they were called by real police officers. You only say you are police officers. Taking the pee won't change that.

Well I suppose you do pay your taxes for us, don't you?

[Anon2]

He just called them 'epaulettes'.

If he said that, are you sure he wasn't referring to the piece of material on which the shoulder number is stitched?????

[GMR]

Well I suppose you do pay your taxes for us, don't you?

What do you do for a living?

[Anon2]

What do you do for a living?

We've had that conversation to death, haven't we? Yes I know we've had other ones to death too......)

[GMR]

If he said that, are you sure he wasn't referring to the piece of material on which the shoulder number is stitched?????

Does it make any difference? We've got miles of fun out of it so what I reported was obviously worth it.