Police vs Railway

[PLS4]

Hi all ,

As per the title , police Vs the railway ? Currently I am going through police recruitment ( I have started the application over a year ago and due to not hearing anything back I have started looking at a job with railway.). Over last 12 months I have had few interviews with good results with the railway.
The police application process speeded up significantly over last month.
I know that there is a number of people who have left the police to join the railway, would you mind sharing information what made you leave ?
Thanks

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I suppose it would depend what you would be doing if you joined the Police and what you would be doing if you joined the railway. I should imagine both could be very rewarding, but of course, quite different. Good luck with whichever you decide to do. (If you did join the police, but still wanted rail connections, then you could always volunteer in your spare time at one of the preserved lines, if you have any near you.?)

 

[Marx]

I’ve done twenty years in the MET 13 of which as a skipper .. my advice to you would be to thoroughly research the police ..use forums like this and even speak to coppers in the street to get a feel for what it’s really like ... the police is very political you are are a punching bag for all of society’s ills and woes and the whipping boy for the government and so called community groups when things go wrong and no matter what you do in any situation you find yourself in you are always critised by someone after the event with the benefit of hindsight or more generally arm chair experts who have an axe to grind .. one example at the moment is knife crime and the deaths we are seeing related to this .. blamed on the police when in reality it’s more to do with the police being berated for years by the government the media community groups even our own senior managers this has lead to officers being reluctant to use stop and search and hence knife enabled crime has gone through the roof .. this is just the tip of the ice berg pay and conditions are crap
The service is in a constant state of flux and managers are only concerned about themselves and the next rank
It has a massive impact on your family life and at times is very stressful .. some of the things you see and deal with stay with you for life .
But that said it can at times be very very rewarding .. locking up nasty people who hurt kids or the elderly is just one example ... I’ve worked with some amazing dedicated skilled people over the years .. the public have no idea of the good work that goes in every day because it doesn’t make headlines or sell papers or fit a political agenda, there is a good sense of camoradery between you and your colleagues.. it does give you some very good transferable skills should leave .. but my advice like any new role is to research it well .. and maybe if your not sure give the specials a go along side working on the railway .. at least then you could dip your toe in the water .. if you want to know anything feel free to ask or PM me

 

[Dave_blood]

I've been a long time follower of this forum but I registered specifically to reply to this thread.

I've worked in the Met for 9 years now. And honestly been looking at getting out for a while. We dont get treated particularly well and causes chaos for home life. Constantly getting your rest days cancelled, getting shifts changed. Just last week I was chosen to leave my team to join another one that I dont particularly want to go to. But we get told we are a Met resource so can be moved anywhere.

A lot of people have left or want to leave. It isnt really seen as a career anymore as so many people get to around the 10 years and have just be ground down from it.

That being said, I have said for a long time the only thing keeping me here is the people you work with. You meet some great people along the way (albeit you work with a lot of strange people too)

I cant speak about rail jobs as I have no experience of it, but I am on the lookout for openings, so my view is a bit one sided.

 

[tiptoptaff]

no matter what you do in any situation you find yourself in you are always critised by someone after the event with the benefit of hindsight or more generally arm chair experts who have an axe to grind ..

As these forums will evidence, it is exactly the same over here on the rail side!

 

[Kse]

From being response for 2 years (albeit a very small amount of time to experience what the met has to offer) and now finishing off my driver training, putting both careers side by side its a no brainer for me. The cons in the police far outweigh any pros, although this is just my opinion. The 6 on 4 off or 7 on 3 off days never felt like i was away from work. Driving home thinking about cris' that you had waiting for you. Cancelled rest days or finishing your shift then being told you HAVE to work another because someone failed to resource properly for a festival. Working Christmas day and having to patrol rather than just responding to callouts (understandably what you are paid to do but its 1 out of 365 and its Christmas). The first half an hour goes to the Queen then going through the aggro of getting overtime approved. The list goes on tbh.

Yes its abit biased because i wanted to leave the job, being in the railway for a matter of months its a no brainer. Pay, Pension, Rest day work (if you want it) and no domestics

 

[OneLowban]

There are two ex-police on my driver course and both left for pretty much the reasons outlined in here already and are not looking back.

Good luck with whatever path(s) you choose, though.

 

[Marx]

As these forums will evidence, it is exactly the same over here on the rail side!

Unfortunately I think that’s the way of the world these days

 

[Strat-tastic]

(If you did join the police, but still wanted rail connections, then you could always volunteer in your spare time at one of the preserved lines, if you have any near you.?)

Or go for the British Transport Police, best of both worlds (or not, judging by comments up thread).

 

[RailGuy111]

I was a Special Constable in the met some years ago, and I found that it was not the career for me (I joined while still deciding whether to go for the full-time position). This is largely due to what has already been outlined above, most officers over 7-8 years wanted out, and those on 15+ years were counting down the days to the pension. Definitely not the way I wanted to go. I joined the railway as a driver, and have never looked back, so many benefits, time off, great work life balance. My TOC has so many ex police officers, who all say the same as others have, and tell me loads of officers apply for the railways as a way out.

All that being said it's personal opinion in some respects. If you do go for a job in the railway, you can always consider being a Special. That way you can get a real taste and insight for the police and know if you've made the right call for yourself.

 

[johnlh]

I think Marx summer it up brilliantly. I’ve done 13 years now and just completed my DMI interview for a driver job.

I’ve worked on various departments and I can honestly say I’ve never seen the job this bad. When I first joined it was unheard of for people to quit but now it’s a regular occurance.

You’ll be treated like absolute s**t on a regular basis. Pays rubbish and a lot of boroughs want you to take time instead of money. Fortunately the department I work on has a bottomless pit of money so overtime is no issue but you get better pay from the off on the rails for working less hours. If I was in your position it wouldn’t even be an option, although, I appreciate your position and ultimately it’s a decision for you to make.

 

[Stigy]

My views are that policing is a good career choice as opposed to a lot of others, with potentially rewarding work. However, I’d not consider joining now, as I have a family. Policing isn’t really compatible with family life (cancelled rest days and annual leave on a whim and not knowing if you’ll be finished on time as a couple of examples) and the politics within policing have made it less attractive over the years. The starting salary isn’t great in a lot of forces, however will increase to a decent enough wage over time.

I’d personally never leave the railway, whereas a few years ago I almost joined BTP. I’m glad I didn’t. One bonus with policing, is that the railway loves ex-police Officers so if you did join up, you may find it easier to get a job as a signaller or driver if you chose to leave in a few years.

 

[sw1ller]

I’ve not been in the police, but my drivers course had 2 coppers on it and the preceding courses have an average of 5 ex coppers on too. All saying what have been outlined above. I live with the sister of a copper and she complains daily. She’s a single mum and her work won’t change her shift patterns to help with childcare at all. On top of this she’s currently 1 of 5 people being investigated over something that happened 2 years ago (long story short, she’s done nothing wrong, nor has anyone, but procedures are procedures) and that’s completely stressing her out and she’s getting no help from her supervisors.

All in all, I wouldn’t even be looking into a career in the police, I’ve not heard anything good. Ultimately, it’s your decision. I would suggest not asking here for advice as you will only be talking to people looking to leave the force. I would suggest finding a police forum and asking there too. Or, like has been suggested upthread, ask the bobbies on the beat, ask people who like their job still.

 

[pendy12]

Been in ten years and it's a shambles. The exciting parts of the job are few and far between. The hindsight brigade and the constant shift changes are a shambles. It is not the career it once was, avoid!

 

[Trico382]

After 11 years in the police I left to embark on my driving career in the railway and the only thing I regret is not doing it sooner! I am much happier, get much better looked after, much better home life and better paid. I have messages from other bobbies all looking to leave which is a sad state of affairs but you have to do what is right for you. There is no way I would move back now.

 

[Junk_girl]

100% railway.

8 years police service, currently going through my driver training! Zero regrets.

 

[Daydr3am3r]

I’m in a county force and to be honest I do not think it is as bad as the Met. That said the job can be tough and it is a very difficult job at times managing risk. For what we do the pay is very poor for the first 3 or 4 years.
There are still specialist teams and regional units that provide more exciting roles tackling Organised Crime.
It isn’t what it used to be but there are plenty that still enjoy the job.
You have to weigh up the pros and cons of both jobs and do what feels right to you.
Depending on forces you can also request a ride along to experience a shift with a response officer.

 

[Theaceface]

Met police officer here with 8 years in. The other police officers advice advice is accurate. I haven't the time to go off on one but the job is utterly f*****. Don't say you weren't warned. An awful place to be these days. Sorry...

 

[PLS4]

Thank you all for valuable opinions !
Of course I will be making my own decisions in regards to which job to go for but , there must be a reason why so many people leave.
I have a friend who is 3 years in and absolutely hates it and states , as above , that the lay is absolutely awful for the job...

 

[Mekiz79]

10 years as a county force PC. Got dragged through an IPCC investigation for doing my job, ended up at court etc etc, all found unproven of course, this involved almost 2 years being on restricted duties.

During the process I applied for and passed all the tests/assessments and interviews for Crossrail. Just waiting for a start date, I wouldnt recommend joining the Police to my worst enemy.

Lack of staff on every team, too much bureaucracy and too many people out for their own agenda (seeking promotion). This makes the job we do very risky not only from being at harm from criminals etc but also from the organisation as you could lose your job, end up in prison etc.

If you think being a Police officer is going to be fun, chasing bad guys, then you are going to be disappointed. Nowadays it's dealing with domestics, mental health and missing persons - 95% of the time. The only thing i will miss is being able to drive on response runs.

Anyway, I think I have given enough details, I'm not too bitter

Goodluck with whatever you choose, I wish you all the best.

 

[RSrimbo]

A lot of negativity regarding the police role.
I look back and can think of hundreds of crazy/awful/hysterical/tragic/dangerous/unbelievable situations from my time in the police and I wouldn’t change that.
I can’t recall anything that I would say stirred emotions in my time on the railway.
That said, the railway is the way forward if you want stability, with great terms and conditions.

 

[andyccfc]

11 years in the police. Transferred to a more rural force and it's not too bad. The people in here are as negative as a lot of the people I have worked with over the years. That's just how some people are. It's not as bad, at least for me, as a lot make out. It's got its good points and bad points. I don't let things bother me that I can't control and luckily don't get stressed about stuff so just do what I can, when I can. Some days are busy, some days I don't go to a job and just potter around the countryside, getting paid for it. You couldn't pay me double though to join the Met or another big force. Been there, done that and wouldn't go back.

I have applied for a driver job saying all that. More just to see how I get on. I would leave if I were lucky enough to get a job driving but I am in no rush to leave the police. There are worse jobs. Especially in a county force away from the big city.

 

[Marx]

10 years as a county force PC. Got dragged through an IPCC investigation for doing my job, ended up at court etc etc, all found unproven of course, this involved almost 2 years being on restricted duties.

During the process I applied for and passed all the tests/assessments and interviews for Crossrail. Just waiting for a start date, I wouldnt recommend joining the Police to my worst enemy.

Lack of staff on every team, too much bureaucracy and too many people out for their own agenda (seeking promotion). This makes the job we do very risky not only from being at harm from criminals etc but also from the organisation as you could lose your job, end up in prison etc.

If you think being a Police officer is going to be fun, chasing bad guys, then you are going to be disappointed. Nowadays it's dealing with domestics, mental health and missing persons - 95% of the time. The only thing i will miss is being able to drive on response runs.

Anyway, I think I have given enough details, I'm not too bitter

Goodluck with whatever you choose, I wish you all the best.

Spot on .... putting your own liberty on the line for just doing your job was the clincher for me it’s just not worth the hassle and the pondlife we deal with know that and play on it

 

[Saffa]

14 years in home county force. I can only echo the above. Far too little resources, unrealistic expectations and little support. I've made some friends for life though and worked with some really good people.

I've just secured a trainee driver role and start in April. Can't wait to begin!

 

[Topcat999]

you seriously had to ask?

 

[Tom Quinne]

As a former PC in a county force way back in the early 2000s it was crap then, it’s got worse!

I was faced with a crossroad when I was 19, police or railway.

My father was ex services then railway, but I always wanted to be a PC so I choose the Police route 3 years of my life that has left a lasting mental effect.

I joined the railway when Pay was crap, the police paid more.

I have to ask the people leaving or thinking about leaving why train driving ?

It’s boring, the shifts are crap, your equally likely to lose your job for messing up, the law of the land is rounding on you if you do mess up.

I’d assume it’s 99% about the money, when you’ve spent 10+ years of your life in a unskilled role (let’s face it the police like the railway is unskilled work) one of the few jobs with a good outlook security and pay wise for the unskilled worker is the railway aka driving.

What does worry me is the flood of ex blue light personnel who are jumping ship potentially being selected at interview on the back of their service purely ahead of people who are equally well suited but lack the perceived desirable traits railway Hr are looking for.

It seems a real interest in the job is taking a second, third and fourth seat these days to pay.

 

[Marx]

As a former PC in a county force way back in the early 2000s it was crap then, it’s got worse!

I was faced with a crossroad when I was 19, police or railway.

My father was ex services then railway, but I always wanted to be a PC so I choose the Police route 3 years of my life that has left a lasting mental effect.

I joined the railway when Pay was crap, the police paid more.

I have to ask the people leaving or thinking about leaving why train driving ?

It’s boring, the shifts are crap, your equally likely to lose your job for messing up, the law of the land is rounding on you if you do mess up.

I’d assume it’s 99% about the money, when you’ve spent 10+ years of your life in a unskilled role (let’s face it the police like the railway is unskilled work) one of the few jobs with a good outlook security and pay wise for the unskilled worker is the railway aka driving.

What does worry me is the flood of ex blue light personnel who are jumping ship potentially being selected at interview on the back of their service purely ahead of people who are equally well suited but lack the perceived desirable traits railway Hr are looking for.

It seems a real interest in the job is taking a second, third and fourth seat these days to pay.

Nothing to do with the money for me personally as I would be taking a pay cut ( top rate skipper 20 yrs in)
Before I joined the job I was a HGV / PSV technician ... I’ve always had a love of all things transport and vehicle related ie cars trucks , planes, trains boats etc .. when I was deciding what to do I looked at a few things gas engineers course ... plumbing sparky etc but just didn’t really do it for me looked at train driving as a friend who was not job but a driver suggested it ... and I liked the role .. I’ve always preferred shifts rather than a nine to five
I know there are similar problems from what you say in the railway and the role carry’s a huge amount of responsibility but for me and being a police officer I’m sick to death of carrying the can for absolutely everything that goes wrong in society and it really is that broad .. pretty much all the big headlines relating g to a disaster a murder a terror incident
Child abuse ring , gang violence , mental health etc in some way the police get blamed for something at some point .. even when we are not the lead agency
And that’s why I want to go

 

[Tom Quinne]

Completely agree with you, a friend of mines son is thinking about joining the job I’ve done everything I can to try and convince him it’s seriously not worth the hassle these days.

It’s a crying shame, it could be a fantasticl rewarding job if the police where lead by people who had the balls to say NO and reverted to police 101 the protect life and fight crime, not be the catch all **** bet they are now.

 

[Stigy]

As a former PC in a county force way back in the early 2000s it was crap then, it’s got worse!

I was faced with a crossroad when I was 19, police or railway.

My father was ex services then railway, but I always wanted to be a PC so I choose the Police route 3 years of my life that has left a lasting mental effect.

I joined the railway when Pay was crap, the police paid more.

I have to ask the people leaving or thinking about leaving why train driving ?

It’s boring, the shifts are crap, your equally likely to lose your job for messing up, the law of the land is rounding on you if you do mess up.

I’d assume it’s 99% about the money, when you’ve spent 10+ years of your life in a unskilled role (let’s face it the police like the railway is unskilled work) one of the few jobs with a good outlook security and pay wise for the unskilled worker is the railway aka driving.

What does worry me is the flood of ex blue light personnel who are jumping ship potentially being selected at interview on the back of their service purely ahead of people who are equally well suited but lack the perceived desirable traits railway Hr are looking for.

It seems a real interest in the job is taking a second, third and fourth seat these days to pay.

You make some valid points. However for me (I’m Railway already), wanting to be a driver is about the nature of the job and genuinely wanting to do the role. The money would be a bonus, of course, but I’d certainly never chose a career path based solely on salary.

I do think that the railway does favour those with emergency services backgrounds. Maybe favour is the wrong term? What I mean to say, is those with emergency services backgrounds tend naturally to meet the required competencies far more easily (more often than not) than those without a safety critical or decision making background such as police officers?

 

[Marx]

Completely agree with you, a friend of mines son is thinking about joining the job I’ve done everything I can to try and convince him it’s seriously not worth the hassle these days.

It’s a crying shame, it could be a fantasticl rewarding job if the police where lead by people who had the balls to say NO and reverted to police 101 the protect life and fight crime, not be the catch all **** bet they are now.

It honestly breaks my heart to see what’s happened to the service over the last 20 years ... I’ve never been afraid to say no and challenged back up the chain when I know what I’ve been asked or directed to do by a senior officer is wrong or against an SOP and on some occasions down right unlawful .. ( it’s amazing the lack of knowledge with some senior officers particularly around PACE and custody ) ... and I’ve always tried to protect and help my PCs ... from stupid decisions and control rooms trying to send them to jobs that we really shouldn’t be going to where another agency has responsibility but they can’t / won’t attend ...this is probably why I’m still a front line skipper after all this time ..